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Boying confirms Bonoan gave PBBM wrong coordinates By Pot Chavez and Charles Dantes Bonoan overstaying in US, gov’t eyes deportation
NEWS / A2
OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday confirmed that former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan gave the wrong coordinates to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 335 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026
DOJ names 4 state witnesses 3 ex-DWPH execs, contractor dropped from criminal cases over flood control By Pot Chavez
T
HREE officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and a contractor have been named as state witnesses in cases involving anomalous flood control projects, the Department of Justice said yesterday.
Roberto Bernardo
Henry Alcantara
Gerard Opulencia
Sally Santos
Justice Acting Secretary Fredderick Vida said former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former DPWH Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, former DPWH-NCR Regional Director
Gerard Opulencia and SYMS Construction Trading owner Sally Santos are now immune from criminal liability “Being discharged from criminal liability is a right of state witnesses,
Ombudsman to file fresh raps vs. flood control actors today By Pot Chavez THE Office of the Ombudsman will file fresh criminal charges today against individuals implicated in alleged anomalies in flood control projects, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced yesterday. “We are filing a case before the Sandiganbayan. Tuloy-tuloy ito (this will be continuous),” Remulla said during a press briefing, declining to disclose further details ahead of the filing.
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PH, JAPAN SIGN 3 KEY AGREEMENTS NEWS / A3
P10-m bounty for Atong Ang’s capture—DILG
Fire hits DPWH Cordillera office NEWS / A2 “Evidence is our priority. We are not going for probable cause. We want reasonable certainty of conviction,” he added. Cases involving public officials with Salary Grade 27 and above are filed before the Sandiganbayan, the special anti-graft court. So far, the Ombudsman has filed two batches of cases related to the flood control controversy. These include malversation and graft charges against resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and 16 others over a P289-million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro, filed before the Sandiganbayan.
specifically in the particular case that they are helping us with...But for other cases, that is subject to another discussion,” Vida said. “They are cooperating with the DOJ to strengthen our cases against those we are pursuing,” he added. However, former DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, who also applied for the Witness Protection Program, did not qualify as state witnesses, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said.
LIKHANG FILIPINO. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos lead the re-opening of ‘Likhang Filipino’ exhibit yesterday in Pasay City. Liking Filipino showcases 6 galleries exhibiting Philippine artistry and craftsmanship and will welcome guests and dignitaries in the upcoming ASEAN Summit this year. PPA
INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said the government will provide a P10million reward for information leading to the arrest of Charlie “Atong” Ang, the primary suspect in the missing sabungero case.. Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against Ang, now considered a fugitive from justice. “The DILG will offer a P10-million reward for his arrest. Any information leading to the conclusive arrest of Atong Ang will merit a P10-million reward,” Remulla said, adding that the bounty was meant to speed up
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PBBM vows aid for Binaliw collapse victims By Charles Dantes, Rex Espiritu, and Rio N. Araja PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday led a moment of silence for the victims of the landfill landslide in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City, as he assured the public of government assistance for the victims while ensuring accountability over the disaster. Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Thursday reported that national response units, local government partners, and private sector teams further boosted search, retrieval, and rescue operations at the Binaliw sanitary landfill in Cebu following the collapse of its materials recovery facility. Next page
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Solon, contractor offered a total of P2-b to stop probe—Jonvic A CONGRESSMAN and a contractor allegedly tried to bribe Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and his brother, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, with a total of P2 billion amid the flood control corruption probe. Jonvic said the attempts were made
through “emissaries” of a “contractor” and an “incumbent congressman-contractor.” “There are two already. Two groups have attempted to bribe us… a contractor and a congressman who is a contractor. Yes, times two. A Visayas-Mindanao group, a Luzon group,” he told
PH to block off Elon Musk’s ‘Grok’ over deepfakes—DICT THE Philippines said Thursday it plans to block Elon Musk’s Grok “by tonight,” joining Southeast Asian neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia in barring access to the chatbot that has drawn fire over AI-generated sexual-
ized deepfakes. The news came hours after social media platform X said it was taking measures to prevent its chatbot from undressing images of real Next page
EXPERIENCE SINULOG TO THE MAX. Celebrate faith, culture, and unforgettable moments as SM Seaside City Cebu and SM City Cebu unite for AweSM Cebu 2026, turning Sinulog into a month-long, high-octane celebration from January 3–28. The celebration hits its peak on Sinulog Day with electrifying performances and the spectacular return of the ILLUMINIGHT Sinulog Drone & Pyro Show, igniting the Cebu skyline.
Dobol B TV in an interview. “They want us to help them with their case. They should be removed from the list and given bail; that’s what they are asking for,” Remulla added. Asked why they were not immediately arrested, Jonvic said the suspects
could easily deny that the bribe attempts came from them and dismissed the reports as “hearsay,” as these were not direct offers. Jonvic said he did not reach out to the congressman and contractor after the incidents, as he did not personally Next page