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Larawan ng Bamban mayor kasama si PBBM: “Prove Nothing”

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Larawan ng Bamban mayor kasama si PBBM: “Prove Nothing”

MAYNILA. Iginiit ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nitong Sabado na ang kanyang mga larawan kasama ang kontrobersyal na Bamban Mayor na si Alice Guo ay “prove nothing,” at sinabing hindi siya tumatanggi sa mga nais magpakuha ng larawan kasama siya.

Inihayag ito ni Marcos Jr. nang hingan siya ng komento hinggil sa post ni Guo kung saan makikitang magkasama sila sa isang event. Nauna nang sinabi ng Pangulo na hindi niya kilala ang alkalde na nasasangkot sa illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations.

“That proves nothing. You know how many pictures I take during a campaign? Siguro isang libo sa isang araw,” pahayag ng Pangulo sa sidelines ng isang event sa Makati.

“Lahat naman ng humihingi ng selfie hindi ko naman hinihindian so it doesn’t really mean anything,” dagdag ni Marcos.

Inihayag din ng Pangulo na wala pang “definitive conclusions” hinggil sa imbestigasyon ng Ehekutibo sa Bamban mayor. Sinabi ni Guo na hindi niya alam kung bakit nairehistro lamang ang kanyang birth certificate noong siya ay 17-anyos na.

Nauna nang hinikayat ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ang Office of the Ombudsman na suspendihin ang Bamban mayor na nasa sentro ng kontrobersiya matapos hindi masagot ang mga tanong ukol sa kanyang pagkakakilanlan sa isang Senate inquiry.

Two dead, five missing in suspected boat collision on Danube in Hungary

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Two dead, five missing in suspected boat collision on Danube in Hungary

BUDAPEST. A suspected collision involving a small motor boat and a cruise ship on the Danube River, north of Budapest, has left two people dead and five others missing, Hungarian police reported.

The grim discovery began unfolding late on Saturday when the body of an adult man was found near the site of the incident. Subsequently, the body of a woman was recovered further downstream. As of Sunday, disaster response units were still searching for the five missing individuals, according to police statements.

Soma Csecsi, a spokesperson for the Budapest police, disclosed that eight adults were aboard the small motor boat at the time of the suspected collision. The incident came to light after police encountered a man with a bleeding head wound near the main road by the river near Veroce, located 55 km (34 miles) north of Budapest.

“Police talked to the man and from his initial communication they drew the conclusion that he was probably the victim of some kind of boat accident,” explained Csecsi.

The recovery efforts intensified as authorities retrieved the body of a man south of Veroce, while a woman’s body was found further downstream near a bridge on the northern outskirts of Budapest. Additionally, the damaged motor boat was recovered in the vicinity.

Csecsi noted, “At the time of the accident, a cruise ship was located in the area, which was stopped at the town of Komarom where police have determined that the ship is damaged on one side.”

Images circulated by Hungarian state media depicted a moored 109-meter-long cruise ship identified as Swiss-based Heidelberg. However, details regarding the number and nationality of individuals on board remained unclear.

Hungarian authorities have initiated a criminal investigation against an unknown perpetrator to ascertain the cause of the accident. Csecsi emphasized that the investigation aims to determine if anyone bears criminal liability for the incident.

Afghanistan ravaged by deadly floods killing at least 84 in northern regions

Venus L Peñaflor
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Afghanistan ravaged by deadly floods killing at least 84 in northern regions

ISLAMABAD. Devastating floods triggered by heavy rains have inflicted further tragedy upon Afghanistan’s northern regions, claiming the lives of at least 84 people, as reported by a Taliban spokesman on Sunday.

The onslaught of heavy rains unleashed flash floods across four districts in Faryab province on Saturday night, resulting in 66 fatalities, five injuries, and eight individuals missing, according to Esmatullah Moradi, spokesperson for the provincial governor. This calamity follows the loss of 18 lives in floods on Friday.

Moradi revealed that approximately 1,500 houses suffered complete or partial destruction, while hundreds of hectares of farmland were inundated, leading to the demise of over 300 animals.

The impact of these catastrophic floods extends beyond Faryab province. In the western province of Ghor, Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesperson for the provincial governor, reported 50 casualties from Friday’s floods, with Ghor being identified as the most severely affected area by the U.N. food agency.

The World Food Program (WFP) highlighted the dire consequences of the floods, emphasizing the loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods among survivors. The floods in April had already claimed 70 lives and destroyed thousands of homes, mosques, and schools in provinces such as Farah, Herat, Zabul, and Kandahar.

The humanitarian situation remains critical, with WFP noting that large portions of Baghlan province are inaccessible by trucks, exacerbating the challenges of delivering aid to affected communities.

An Afghan couple sit near their damaged home in western Afghanistan on May 18.Omid Haqjoo / AP

‘Glue lady’ na nambibiktima ng seniors sa ATM, arestado sa Batangas

Arman B. Cambe
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‘Glue lady’ na nambibiktima ng seniors sa ATM, arestado sa Batangas

LIPA CITY, Batangas. Naaresto ng mga tauhan ng Police Regional Office-4A (PRO4A) ang isang babae na tinaguriang “glue lady” dahil sa pagnanakaw ng pera mula sa mga senior citizen na nagwi-withdraw sa mga ATM machines.

Ayon kay PRO4A Regional Director Police Brig. General Paul Kenneth Lucas, nahuli ang glue lady sa isang operasyon sa Lipa, Batangas. Tumanggi si Lucas na banggitin ang pangalan ng suspek dahil sa patuloy na follow-up operation laban sa posibleng mga kasabwat nito sa kanyang modus operandi.

Nabatid na magkukunwari ang suspek na tumutulong at umaalalay sa senior citizen na nahihirapang mag-withdraw dahil sa pagkalito sa ATM machine. Hindi alam ng biktima na gagamitan ng suspek ng glue ang ATM card, at sa sandaling umalis ang biktima, ang suspek na ang magwi-withdraw ng pera.

Kapag humingi ng tulong ang biktima, doon na aalisin ng suspek ang glue sa ATM card para magmukhang sira ang makina.

Lumilitaw na nakapambiktima na ang suspek ng mga senior citizen sa Rizal, Batangas, at iba pang lugar sa labas ng CALABARZON. Iniimbitahan naman ng CALABARZON Police ang iba pang posibleng nabiktima na magsampa ng reklamo laban sa suspek.

Patuloy ang imbestigasyon at operasyon ng mga awtoridad upang masugpo ang ganitong klase ng krimen at mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga nabiktima.

Benny Gantz threatens to resign from Israel’s war cabinet over Gaza war strategy

Venus L Peñaflor
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Benny Gantz threatens to resign from Israel’s war cabinet over Gaza war strategy

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. Benny Gantz, a prominent centrist and member of Israel’s three-member War Cabinet, has issued a stark ultimatum to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gantz declared on Saturday that he will resign from the government if a new war plan for Gaza is not adopted within three weeks, potentially reshaping Israel’s political landscape.

This announcement comes amid a protracted conflict that has seen Israel struggle to achieve its objectives of dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages taken during the militant group’s October 7 attack. Gantz’s resignation would force Netanyahu to rely more heavily on his far-right allies, further polarizing the nation’s leadership.

Gantz’s Six-Point Plan

Gantz outlined a comprehensive six-point plan, emphasizing:

  • The return of hostages.
  • The end of Hamas’ rule.
  • The demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
  • The establishment of an international administration for Gaza’s civilian affairs, with cooperation from the U.S., Europe, Arab nations, and Palestinians.
  • Efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.
  • Expanding military service to all Israelis.

“If you choose the path of fanatics and lead the entire nation to the abyss — we will be forced to quit the government,” Gantz warned, setting a deadline of June 8.

Netanyahu’s Response

Prime Minister Netanyahu responded by accusing Gantz of issuing an ultimatum to the Israeli government rather than to Hamas, dismissing Gantz’s conditions as “euphemisms” for Israel’s defeat.

Internal Tensions

Gantz’s threat comes shortly after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also a member of the War Cabinet, stated he would resign if Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza, advocating instead for a Palestinian administration. Gantz criticized what he described as the infiltration of “personal and political considerations” into national security matters, in an apparent critique of Netanyahu.

Polls suggest Gantz as a leading contender for the next prime minister, a role that could expose Netanyahu to longstanding corruption charges. His potential departure from the War Cabinet could significantly weaken Netanyahu’s position.

U.S. Involvement and Domestic Pressure

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia and Israel to discuss the conflict. Netanyahu has asserted that Israel would “stand alone” if necessary.

Domestically, frustration is mounting. Israelis are calling for a deal to end the fighting, exacerbated by the recent discovery of the bodies of additional hostages killed by Hamas. Thousands rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday, with some police using water cannons against protesters.

Humanitarian Crisis

Efforts to deliver aid to Gaza faced setbacks, with Israeli tanks firing warning shots to clear the way for trucks carrying food supplies. The conflict, which began with Hamas’ October 7 attack, has led to significant casualties on both sides: 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 taken hostage, while over 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza have died, according to local health officials.

Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel will maintain security control over Gaza and collaborate with local Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, though he acknowledged that planning for postwar governance is contingent on Hamas’ defeat.

The evolutionary twist that could have helped dinosaurs rule Earth

EDGARDO HERNAL
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The evolutionary twist that could have helped dinosaurs rule Earth

Dinosaur means “terrible lizard.” The idea that the prehistoric creatures were scaly, sluggish reptiles with sprawling postures that dragged their tails through tropical swamps is deeply imprinted in the collective imagination.

However, science now has a more nuanced understanding of the diversity of dinosaur physiology. Many dinosaurs sported brightly colored feathers like birds. Dinos lived in many different ecosystems, including the Arctic, where they would have encountered snow (if not the ice caps of today) and winters devoid of light.

New research this week is adding fresh detail to one of paleontology’s biggest questions: Did dinosaur blood run hot or cold?

It’s hard to find evidence that unquestionably shows what dinosaur metabolisms were like. Clues from fossilized eggshells and bones have now suggested that some dinosaurs were warm-blooded and others were not.

Gleaning the answer matters because it sheds light on dinosaur behavior. Warm-blooded animals, such as mammals and birds, are more active than their cold-blooded counterparts.

A new study, based on fossils from 1,000 dinosaur species and paleoclimate information, found that the three main dinosaur groups adapted differently, with two of the groups evolving the ability to regulate body temperature in the early Jurassic Period about 180 million years ago.

The research suggested that meat-eating theropods, which included T. rex, and plant-eating ornithischians, such as Triceratops and Stegosaurus, spread to live in colder climates during the early Jurassic Period, indicating that they may have evolved the ability to generate body heat internally.

Updates sa kaso ni Bamban Mayor Alice Gou na inaakusahang espiya ng China

Venus L Peñaflor
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Updates sa kaso ni Bamban Mayor Alice Gou na inaakusahang espiya ng China

Lumutang ang pangalan ng isang maliit na bayan sa Tarlac na pumukaw sa pambansang pansin matapos akusahan ang kanilang alkalde ng pagiging espiya ng Tsina.

Ang Bamban ay isang tahimik na bayan sa hilaga ng Maynila. Si Alice Guo, ang kanilang alkalde, ay kilala bilang isang masipag at batang lingkod-bayan. Siya ay nakasalamin, may mahabang itim na buhok, at palaging nakangiti. Si Guo, 35 taong gulang, ay nagsasalita ng Tagalog nang walang puntong Chinese.

Kampante niyang pinamumunuan ang bayan ng Bamban, hanggang sa siya ay ipatawag upang tumestigo sa isang pagdinig ng Senado kamakailan. Natuklasan ng mga awtoridad na ang isang online casino sa kanyang bayan, na kilala bilang Pogo, ay isang front para sa isang scam center.

Noong Marso, ni-raid ng mga awtoridad ang pasilidad at nasagip ang halos 700 manggagawa, kabilang ang 202 Tsino at 73 iba pang dayuhan na pinilit magpanggap bilang mga online lovers. Ang Pogo ay Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator na ang mga kliyente ay mga mainland Chinese.

Ang mga negosyong ito ay lumaganap sa panahon ni Rodrigo Duterte na may malapit na ugnayan sa China. Ngunit sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang pangulo na si Ferdinand Marcos Jr., ang mga Pogo ay nasa ilalim ng masusing pagsusuri matapos matuklasan na ang ilan sa mga ito ay ginagamit bilang front para sa human trafficking at online scam operations.

Ang kaso ni Guo ay naganap habang umiinit ang tensyon sa pagitan ng Maynila at Beijing tungkol sa mga bahura at pulo sa South China Sea.

Natuklasan na si Guo ay may-ari ng kalahati ng lupain kung saan nakatayo ang Pogo, na nasa likod lamang ng kanyang opisina. Ayon sa kanya, ibinenta na niya ang lupain bago pa siya tumakbo bilang alkalde dalawang taon na ang nakalipas.

Ipinakita sa video ng halos walong ektaryang compound na may grocery, warehouse, swimming pool, at wine cellar. Ang mga scam center workers ay nagtatrabaho sa compound na may 36 na gusali.

Si Guo ay natuklasan ding may helicopter at Ford Expedition na nakarehistro sa kanyang pangalan ngunit tulad ng lupain, sinabi niyang matagal na niyang naibenta ang mga ito.

Matapos ang pagdinig ng Senado, tinanong ni Senador Risa Hontiveros kung si Guo ay isang “asset” ng Tsina batay sa kanyang mga “malabong” sagot tungkol sa kanyang personal at negosyo.

“No-one knows her. We wonder where she came from, that’s why we are investigating this, together with the Bureau of Immigration, because of the questions about her citizenship,” sabi ni Pangulong Marcos sa mga mamamahayag noong Huwebes.

Sinabi ni Guo sa mga mambabatas na hindi siya “coddler” o “protector” ng mga Pogo.

Kaunti lang ang kaalaman tungkol sa kanyang background, na hindi pangkaraniwan sa mga kanayunan ng Pilipinas, kung saan ang mga lokal na opisyal ay kadalasang kabilang sa mga political dynasties. Siya ay nasa kanyang unang termino bilang halal na opisyal.

Sinabi ng Commission on Elections na siya ay nagparehistro para bumoto sa Bamban noong 2021, isang taon bago siya tumakbo at nanalo bilang alkalde.

Ang apelyido niyang Guo ay hindi karaniwang apelyido ng mga Pilipinong may lahing Tsino. Bagaman sinakop ng Espanya, ang Pilipinas at Tsina ay may malalim na ugnayang pangkultura dahil sa siglong kalakalan. Sa katunayan, ang bansa ay tahanan ng pinakamatandang Chinatown sa mundo.

Sa ilalim ng pagtatanong ng mga senador, inamin ni Guo na ang kanyang birth certificate ay nairehistro lamang sa lokal na awtoridad noong siya ay 17 taong gulang na. Sinabi niyang ito ay dahil ipinanganak siya sa bahay, hindi sa ospital o klinika ngunit hindi niya ala kung saan ang lokasyon ng bahay. Hindi siya makapagbigay ng karagdagang detalye.

Sinabi niyang home-schooled siya sa loob lamang ng family compound kung saan sila nag-aalaga ng baboy. Ngunit hindi niya matandaan ang pangalan ng kanilang home school organization at nabanggit lamang ang isa sa kanyang mga guro.

Sinabi niyang ang kanyang ama ay Pilipino, ngunit sa mga rekord ng negosyo, ang kanyang ama ay nakilalang isang Chinese national.

“Maraming nagtatanong kung sino si Guo?” sabi niya sa isang campaign speech noong 2022, ayon sa GMA News. “Ako si Alice Guo na tubong Bamban. Ang nanay ko ay Filipina, ang tatay ko ay Tsino.” ayon sa kanya.

Si Hontiveros ay isa sa mga nagtanong kay Guo tungkol sa kanyang mga rekord ng kapanganakan at edukasyon. Nang pinilit niya si Guo na maging mas tiyak, sumagot lamang ito ng “Babalikan ko po kayo.”

“Labis akong nababahala sa malalabong mga sagot ni Mayor Guo, lalo na tungkol sa kanyang pinagmulan,” sabi ni Hontiveros sa mga mamamahayag. “Si Mayor Alice ba at ang mga katulad niyang may misteryosong pinagmulan ay nagtatrabaho bilang asset ng Tsina na inilagay sa ating bansa upang maimpluwensiyahan nila ang pulitika sa Pilipinas?”

“Mahirap paniwalaan si Mayor Alice Guo ng Bamban, kapag ang sagot niya sa aming mga tanong ay palaging ‘Hindi ko alam’ at hindi niya maalala kung saan siya tumira.” sabi ni Senador Sherwin Gatchalian, sa nasabi ring pagdinig.

Hindi nagbigay ng komento si Guo tungkol sa paratang ng espiya at halos hindi nagpapakita sa media mula noong kanyang pagharap sa Senado noong nakaraang linggo.

Sinabi ni Marcos na ang imbestigasyon kay Guo ay naglalayong pigilan ang mga dayuhan mula sa paghawak ng pampublikong posisyon sa bansa. Sinabi niyang hindi lamang isang bansa ang kanilang tinitignan.

“Hihigpitan natin ang pagpapatupad ng batas. Nariyan ang mga batas, ang problema ay iniisip ng ilan na maaaring magdala ng pera ang mga taong ito, o kaya naman ay sinusuhulan sila,” sabi ni Marcos.

Ang Commission on Elections at ang Solicitor General ay nag iimbestiga na sa kaso ni Guo upang malaman kung siya ay ilegal na humahawak ng pampublikong posisyon. Kung mapatunayan, maaari siyang tanggalin sa pwesto.

Dalagita, pinakain muna bago inabuso ng rider

Arman B. Cambe
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Dalagita, pinakain muna bago inabuso ng rider

SAN MATEO, RIZAL. Isang 15-anyos na dalagita ang naging biktima ng pang-aabuso matapos pumayag na sumakay sa motorsiklo ng isang rider na nag-alok na ihahatid siya sa bahay ng kanyang kaklase. Nangyari ang insidente kahapon sa San Mateo, Rizal.

Ayon sa ulat, papunta sana ang dalagita sa bahay ng kanyang kaklase upang gumawa ng assignment. Habang naglalakad, nadaanan siya ng suspek at inalok na ihahatid. Pumayag ang dalagita at ilang minuto pa lamang silang magkasama ay tila nagkapalagayan na sila ng loob. Nagawa pa nilang kumain sa isang restoran bago nakalimutan ng biktima ang kanyang orihinal na pakay.

Sa halip na sa bahay ng kaklase, dinala ng suspek ang dalagita sa kanyang bahay sa San Mateo, Rizal, kung saan naisakatuparan ang kanyang makamundong pagnanasa. Matapos ang insidente, inihatid pa ng suspek ang biktima sa kanilang bahay, na inakala niyang nagkapalagayan na sila ng loob at hindi niya inasahang ang menor de edad ay magsusumbong sa kanyang ina.

Sinamahan ng kanyang ina ang dalagita sa tanggapan ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – Anti Organized Crime Unit (CIDG-AOCU) upang magsampa ng reklamo laban sa suspek. Agad kumilos ang mga awtoridad at sa tulong ng plate number ng motorsiklo, natunton at naaresto ang suspek.

Ayon kay Police Colonel Ian Rosales, hepe ng CIDG-AOCU, nadiskubre na dating salesman ang suspek at may warrant of arrest para sa kasong estafa. Inamin naman ng suspek ang kanyang krimen at sinabi niyang hindi niya inakalang 15-anyos lamang ang dalagita. Aniya, naging maayos ang kanilang pagkikilala at inisip niyang may makakasama na siya sa buhay dahil isa na siyang balo at mag-isa na lamang sa buhay.

Nahaharap ngayon ang suspek sa mga kasong acts of lasciviousness, child rape, at child abuse.

Nagpaalala naman ang mga awtoridad sa publiko, lalo na sa mga kabataan, na huwag basta-basta makipag-usap at magtiwala sa mga taong hindi kakilala upang maiwasan ang ganitong mga insidente.

Israeli Army finds bodies of four hostages in Gaza

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israeli Army finds bodies of four hostages in Gaza

JERUSALEM. The Israeli military has found the bodies of four Israeli hostages in Gaza, including those of German-Israeli Shani Louk and Ron Benjamin, who were killed during the Hamas attack on October 7. The retrievals were confirmed over two consecutive days, shedding light on the brutal events that transpired during the attack and the subsequent military operations.

On Friday, the Israeli military announced that its troops found the bodies of three hostages in Gaza, all victims of the October 7 assault by Hamas militants. Among the deceased were 22-year-old Shani Louk, whose body was shockingly paraded on a Hamas truck, 28-year-old Amit Buskila, and 56-year-old Itzhak Gelerenter. All three were killed while trying to flee the Nova music festival near the Gaza border, where militants massacred hundreds of attendees.

“They were celebrating life at the Nova music festival and were murdered by Hamas,” said IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari during a press conference in Tel Aviv. The bodies were recovered during a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, although details about the exact locations were not disclosed.

The following day, the body of Ron Benjamin was also recovered from Gaza. Benjamin was killed on October 7 at the Mefalsim intersection and his body was taken by Hamas into Gaza. Hagari noted the harrowing conditions under which these bodies were found, including some being hidden in tunnels.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed profound grief over the loss, stating, “The heart breaks for the great loss. My wife Sara and I grieve with the families. All our hearts are with them in this hour of grieving. We will return all our hostages, the dead and the alive alike. I congratulate our brave forces who, with determined action, have returned our sons and daughters home.”

Shani Louk’s family shared their emotional response upon recovering her body, stating that the IDF’s efforts have brought them some closure. “Every news like this brings us back to the horrific moment we had to find out that our loving daughter was brutally murdered by Hamas on the 7th of October. However, it is also a relief to get the body back and we are now able to bury her close by. It gives us some kind of closure,” the family said in a statement to CNN. They remembered Shani as a beautiful, peace-loving individual who brought light and hope to many.

The gruesome discovery of these bodies underscores the severe impact of the October 7 attack, in which Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and abducted around 250 others. While about half of the hostages have since been freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, many remain unaccounted for. The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of over 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

Despite various attempts to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages, progress has been slow. Recently, Hamas militants criticized Israel’s rejection of a ceasefire plan, claiming it hindered hostage release talks.

The Israeli military continues its operations in Gaza, determined to recover all hostages and bring closure to grieving families.

Vatican tightens guidelines on evaluating ‘supernatural’ events

Venus L Peñaflor
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Vatican tightens guidelines on evaluating ‘supernatural’ events

VATICAN CITY. The Vatican introduced on Friday stricter procedures for evaluating reported supernatural events such as weeping Madonnas and blood-dripping crucifixes, phenomena that have captivated the Catholic faithful for centuries.

The Vatican’s doctrinal office has overhauled norms first issued in 1978, stating that the old guidelines are no longer practical in the internet age. Today, news about apparitions or weeping Madonnas spreads rapidly and can harm the faithful if hoaxers exploit people’s beliefs for financial gain or manipulation, the Vatican explained.

In a document replacing guidelines from 1978, the Vatican’s doctrinal office (DDF) mandated that bishops can no longer act independently when faced with reports of such phenomena. Instead, they must consult the DDF before initiating investigations.

Furthermore, the new rules strip bishops of the authority to recognize the “supernatural” nature of apparitions and other purportedly divine events. This responsibility now rests with the pope and central Vatican offices.

Pope Francis has previously expressed skepticism regarding these events. Last year, he told Italian TV RAI that Virgin Mary apparitions are “not always real” and that he prefers to view Mary as “pointing to Jesus” rather than drawing attention to herself.

Reported incidents, including the appearance of “stigmata” or Jesus’ crucifixion wounds on the hands and feet of saintly individuals, have often become the basis for shrines and pilgrimages.

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, head of the DDF, emphasized the need for cautious assessment of such events, warning that they might be fraudulent and exploited for “profit, power, fame, social recognition, or other personal interest.”

The new DDF document advises that bishops should typically issue a “nihil obstat” — a provisional approval for worship that leaves open the question of formal Vatican recognition of the phenomenon as “supernatural.” Fernandez noted that such recognition is “very exceptional.”

Bishops can reach five other conclusions on purported supernatural events, including their formal rejection or measures to ban or limit the worship of controversial or clearly fake phenomena.

The document cited past confusion over alleged supernatural appearances by the Virgin Mary in Amsterdam during the 1940s and 1950s. These were eventually ruled invalid in 2020 after several conflicting verdicts. “It took about 70 excruciating years to bring the whole matter to a conclusion,” the DDF stated.

The norms acknowledge that many pilgrimage sites are linked to purported supernatural events not authenticated by the Vatican. However, this does not pose significant problems for the faith.

An example not mentioned in Friday’s document is the popular shrine of Medjugorje in Bosnia, where repeated apparitions of the Virgin Mary have been reported since 1981. A Vatican investigation into these claims is ongoing. “We think that with these rules it will be easier to arrive at a prudential conclusion [on Medjugorje],” Fernandez said.

The proliferation of supposed religious phenomena, some clearly fraudulent, contributed to the split in Christianity and the rise of Protestantism in Europe during the 16th century.

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