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‘Basyang’ dumps record rainfall as shear line worsens By Rio N. Araja TROPICAL storm ‘‘Basyang’’ has dumped extremely rare volumes of rain that exceeded Northern Mindanao’s 100-year return period and contributed to flooding in Iligan City due to overwhelmed rivers and drainage systems. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in a Facebook post, said the rainfall amounts exceeded the 100-year return period in the Northern Mindanao area.
SHEAR LINE FLOODING. Heavy rains triggered by the shear line, a convergence of winds that brings rain and thunderstorms, yesterday flooded the towns of Bato in Catanduanes and Basud, Camarines Norte. Bato PNP Catanduanes/ Basud Municipal Police Station
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 360 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026 •
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Lacson warns against ‘homegrown traitors’ As WPS issue heats up, Marcoletas invited to visit Kalayaan By Ram Superable and Rex Espiritu ENATE President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Sunday warned against what he called “homegrown traitors,” amid renewed debate over China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and proposals to give up the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
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“In geopolitics, the most common sources of information are technical
intelligence and homegrown traitors who are willing to sell their country in
exchange for what’s in it for them. In intelligence operations, it is called ‘recruitment in place,’” Lacson said in a post on X. The senator also denounced personal attacks against officials and lawmakers defending Philippine sovereignty. He called as “uncalled for” a social media post by SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta suggesting that a Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson and several senators be used as
“cannon fodder” in a war with China. “The son also rises with his own ad hominem. Suggesting to use the PCG spokesman and some senators as cannon fodder if China declares war against the Philippines is uncalled for,” Lacson said, referring to Marcoleta, son of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. “He should visit Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group and see for himself the functioning local governNext page ment there,” he added.
Several flood control data inaccurate—Dizon By Charles Dantes THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Sunday that several flood control project coordinates posted on the ‘Sumbong sa Pangulo’ website are incorrect, attributing
the errors to inaccurate data submitted by the agency’s previous leadership. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the discrepancies stemmed
from wrong or imprecise coordinates provided earlier to the Palace, confirming a previous disclosure by Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo Lacson that flawed grid data had been submitted during the tenure
of former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan. "Totoo na merong mga maling coordinates at pagpunta mo doon sa coordinates na ’yun, wala kang makikitang proyekto. Na-experience Next page
Cases vs. Chiz, Joel moving, says Ombudsman
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P2.5B ALLOTED FOR CANCER CURE NEWS/ A7
AFP stands firm in conducting sea patrols with allies By Rex Espiritu THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it will continue conducting patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite China’s claims that such activities undermine peace and stability in the region. Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the Chinese Communist Party has been the source of instability in areas that lie within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “Our exercises in BdM (Bajo de Masinloc) are scheduled, duly coordinated, and pre-approved and are within our EEZ. They will be conducted by our forces, in partnership with our treaty ally and with other like-minded nations,” Trinidad said in a message on Sunday. “This pattern of unlawful actions are also done against other maritime states in Southeast Asia. Their patrols and so-called exercises over Bajo de Masinloc is another illegal action that should stop as they have no basis in international law,” he added. China earlier said it conducted naval and air patrols in the South China
2nd impeach rap vs. VP Sara is stronger–Akbayan By Rio N. Araja
'No basis to link PBBM in flood control mess'
“Under investigation, maybe the case of Sen. Villanueva is a little more advanced than Sen. Escudero. But it’s moving, it’s moving. But we just have
NEWS/ A3
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OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said that probes involving Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Joel Villanueva are moving, noting that the case against the latter is further along while the Ombudsman exercises caution on all pending matters.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has so far found no basis to hold President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accountable in connection with the alleged flood control irregularities, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Sunday. Lacson added that the issue of Marcos' accountability is better left to the judgment of the House Committee on Justice, which had earlier dismissed the impeachment complaints against the President.
ACIDRE URGES SENATE TO PASS BALIKBAYAN BILL
SPORTS IDOLS. Ernest John “EJ” Obiena wraps himself with the Philippine flag after winning the gold medal in the men’s pole vault at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in China, while Filipina tennis star Alex Eala greets Filipino fans after her semifinals game in Abu Dhabi. EJ Obiena FB page/Alex Eala FB page
Obiena gets Asian indoor gold, Eala in Qatar 1000 ERNEST John “EJ” Obiena clinched the gold medal in the men’s pole vault after clearing 5.70 meters at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships here on February 7.
Obiena cleared both 5.50 and 5.70 meters on his first attempt, delivering a dominant performance in the finals. He stood atop the podium as the Philippine national anthem played during the
awarding ceremony. Meanwhile. Alex Eala takes on Tereza Valentova of Czechia today in Round 1 of the Qatar Open. Next page
THE second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte remains “very strong” and would have proceeded to a Senate trial were it not for a ruling of the Supreme Court that voided the Articles of Impeachment on a technicality, according to Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima. "For the complainants and for us — the endorsers of the second complaint -- the evidence is strong. Nadagdagan pa nga ito," she said. De Lima stressed the complaint meets the requirements of both form and substance to move forward. "We are confident that it is sufficient in form and substance to move forward to evidentiary hearings in the House Committee on Justice and to be transmitted to the Senate for trial,” she said. Duterte on Saturday dismissed the new impeachment complaint against Next page