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Bonoan back, to face probe
As Leviste to skip Blue Ribbon hearing today amid ‘death threats’ By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez
F
ORMER Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan made a surprise return to the country yesterday, about a month ahead of schedule, and will attend today’s hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee. In a statement, the Bureau of Immigration said Bonoan arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
3 in Pasay City on Sunday morning aboard China Airlines flight CI0701 from Taipei, a connecting flight from
his origin in the United States. Bonoan left for the US on November 11, 2025 to accompany his wife Yolanda for a medical procedure. He had earlier requested for an extension of his stay in the US until February 12. Meanwhile, the Bilyonaryo News Channel reported that Bonoan’s representatives confirmed his attendance in today’s Blue Ribbon Committee Next page
UNEXPECTED.
Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan presents his travel documents at the Manila airport immigration yesterday. Bureau of Immigration
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 338 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2026
Dizon also says flood area data inaccurate By Ram Superable PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon has confirmed that many flood control project coordinates listed on the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website are inaccurate, citing errors in data submitted by the agency’s previous leadership under Manuel Bonoan. Dizon is the second government official to confirm the erroneous data after Ombudsman Crispin Remulla. “Totoo na merong mga maling coordinates at yun ay nanggaling sa DPWH noong Agosto… Pagpunta mo doon sa coordinates na yun, wala kang makikitang proyekto. Na-experience ko mismo yan personally sa Oriental Mindoro at Next page
‘State witnesses should help reveal masterminds’ VIVA PIT SENOR!. At least 3 million Catholic devotees turned up, inspite of the rains, in Cebu City to watch yesterday’s Annual Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown and show their devotion to the Child Jesus (Santo Nino). Minerva Newman, Alan Tangcawan
THE four state witnesses who admitted involvement in the multibillion-peso flood control anomalies should help expose the masterminds behind the irregularities, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said. “The important thing is that there is a process, and we are confident these witnesses were properly vetted by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman,” Dizon said on Saturday, adding “that comes with the expectation that they will help identify the masterminds behind this large-scale theft.” Next page
Sinulog grand parade draws at least 3 million despite rains By Minerva Newman CEBU CITY— An estimated crowd of three to four million filled the streets of Cebu City yesterday, vibrating with the drumbeats and dances of people from all walks of life with the 37 contingents participating in the Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown. “We had 4M in 2025, about 2.5 to 3M in 2024 and probably four to five million today because big prizes are at
stake for the Street dancing, free interpretation and Sinulog based categories, ranging from P500,000 to P1.5 for the 3rd placer, P2M for the 2nd placers and P3M for the 1st placers,” Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival bared in one of his media briefings. There were six categories in yesterday’s performance competitions including the Sinulog-based category at the Ritual Showdown, Free Interpretation Next page
STOOL SCANNER.
Photo taken in Fukuoka in July 2025 shows a Toto Ltd. toilet equipped with a stool scan sensor. Kyodo
By Rio N. Araja AT LEAST two congressional leaders remained hopeful that the Supreme Court (SC) would grant a motion for reconsideration of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte which was dropped earlier by the high tribunal.
“With regard to the motion for reconsideration, it is already with the SC, and we are waiting for its action on that. So presumably, if ever it is lifted or given due course, we expect the process will take off where it started where it ended,” TINGOG party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said. On the other hand, Lanao del Sur
10 years needed to fix educational system—EDCOM By Rolando Ng III
gust, equipped with a sensor module inside the toilet bowl that scans waste using a LED-equipped device to measure shape, volume and color. The first such product designed for home use in Japan, the system classi-
A 10-YEAR reform program is needed to address the country’s education crisis, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2). Meanwhile, data released by the agency showed that Filipino students’ proficiency rates continued to decline. “Under the program that we compiled for almost three decades, we need at least 10 years of necessary reform,” EDCOM 2 executive director Karol Mark Yee told Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday. Yee issued the statement as EDCOM 2 prepares to submit its third and final report on Monday, Jan. 19, which also contains a national education plan. He said that within two years, the recommendations of EDCOM 2 will
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New Japanese toilet scans stools FAMOUS for their innovative products, Japanese toilet makers have introduced new stool analysis technology to their products in a bid to attract health-conscious buyers. Toto Ltd. released two new models of its high-end Neorest series in Au-
Solons see SC reversal on VP Sara impeach case
UPGRADED. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos check out the cabin of the new Airbus A350-1000, the first in Southeast Asia and tenth worldwide, of the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines. Inset shows the President receiving a memento from PAL President Stanley Ng. PCO
Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the SC decision regarding the impeachment suit “was more on the technicality and not on the merits of the case that we have filed,”. Acidre cited Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s commitment that he would “act forthwith” on any impeachment case Next page