manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 09173382170 / 85646229
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 339 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026
HISTORIC FIND. Photo shows a flaring operation by Prime Energy, operator of the Malampaya natural gas field off Palawan, which announced a major milestone with the discovery of a new natural gas reservoir containing 98 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Prime Energy
PH makes ‘historic’ gas find PBBM: Malampaya discovery enough to power 5.7m households
By Charles Dantes, Alena Mae S. Flores and Rex Espiritu
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Jr. announced a “significant” natural gas discovery east of the Malampaya gas field, marking the country’s first major find in more than a decade at its sole producing offshore site.
About 98 billion cubic feet of natural gas – enough to provide power to 5.7 million homes for a year – has been found east of the Malampaya Field near the island of Palawan, Marcos said. The President said the volume at the Malampaya East 1 (MAE-1) is
equivalent to roughly 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. “Initial testing showed that the well flowed at 60 million cubic feet per day. This indicates that the well has the potential to produce even more, confirming it is a high-productivity resource
comparable to the original Malampaya wells,” he said “This helps Malampaya’s contribution and strengthens our domestic gas supply for many years to come,” Mr. Marcos added. Next page
Lawyer files impeach complaint vs. PBBM; Palace: Baseless rap By Charles Dantes Maricel Cruz AN IMPEACHMENT complaint was filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday before the House of Representatives, a move that Malacanang downplayed as “baseless” as House leaders cautioned against using the process to “manufacture a crisis where none exists.” The complainant, lawyer Andrei de Jesus, cited Next page
Testimony vs. former Speaker ‘insufficient’ By Maricel V. Cruz SENATOR Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday acknowledged during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that testimony presented by witnesses was insufficient to implicate former Speaker Martin Romualdez, effectively conceding that no evidence has been established against Romualdez. Next page
EALA EXITS AUSSIE OPEN SPORTS / A8
HOT SEAT. Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, inset, testifies at the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing yesterday. Also in attendance were ex-DPWH officlals led by Roberto A. Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, Bryce Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza; and contractor Pacifico Discaya. Lino Santos
NBI arrests Hernandez, Mendoza in case vs. ex-Sen. Revilla By Maricel V. Cruz and Pot Chavez NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents arrested former DPWH engineers Bryce Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza at the Senate last night. The Sandiganbayan Third Division had ear-
lier issued warrants for former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and six others accused in a malversation case involving an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. It was not known as of press time if Revilla and the rest of the accused have been taken into custody.
Lawyer Dennis Pulma, executive clerk of court of the Sandiganbayan, confirmed that arrest warrants have been issued against the accused. “After a careful review of the resolution and its supporting documents, as well as the records, the Next page
DOJ affirms only 14 ghost flood control projects • DOJ to seek Alcantara turnover • Show-cause orders vs. Co, Guteza
By Maricel V. Cruz THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has identified and confirmed that 14 flood control projects are “ghost” or non-existent.
Meanwhile, the Senate agreed to allow the DOJ to take custody of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry Alcantara following Next page
Zaldy Co’s deportation ‘improbable’—Jonvic
NEWEST PATROL SHIP. The Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) welcomes the country’s newest offshore patrol vessel, the future BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS20), which arrived in the country from South Korea on January 17, marking another milestone in the modernization of the Navy’s fleet. Philippine Navy
Hefty oil price hikes take effect today By Alena Mae S. Flores
DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday that while deportation may seem the most “logical” way to bring former Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co back from Portugal, it is also the “most improbable.” Remulla made the remarks after ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima urged the government to negotiate Co’s deportation rather than pursue an extradition treaty. “That is the most logical but the most improbable... Ang sinasabi ni Rep. Leila, madali sabihin, but it has to follow the rule of law,” Remulla told Balitanghali.
OIL companies will implement a hefty price hike of up to P2 per liter effective 6 a.m. today, as geopolitical tensions in Venezuela, Iran and the Black Sea raise concerns over global supply. The firms will increase the price of diesel by P2 per liter, kerosene by P1.50 per liter and gasoline by P1 per liter. Seaoil Philippines, Jetti Petroleum, PTT Philippines and Cleanfuel issued separate announcements of the price movements. Jetti Petroleum President Leo Bellas said last week that the price of crude oil and refined products
Next page
Next page