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DOJ asks OMB to file plunder, graft raps vs. Jinggoy, Bonoan By Rex Espiritu THE Office of the Ombudsman on Monday confirmed receipt of a Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution recommending the filing of plunder and graft charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of
VOL. XL • NO. 94 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2026
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, among several personalities involved in allegedly anomalous infrastructure projects. According to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, the Justice Department asked their office to file the charges Next page
Impeach court summons VP Luistro to lead 11-member public prosecution panel
By Ram Superable, Katrina Manubay, Joel Zurbano, Maricel Cruz, Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez
T
HE Senate on Monday formally convened as an impeachment court and ordered the issuance of a writ of summons to Vice President Sara Duterte, setting in motion the chamber’s constitutional duty to hear the Articles of Impeachment filed against her. IMPEACHMENT COURT JUDGES.
Clad in traditional Oxford crimson robes, 23 senators – Senator Bato dela Rosa remained absent after fleeing the premises Thursday dawn – took their respective oaths to serve as senator-judges for the duration of the upcoming trial. “The court having been organized, and the Articles of Impeachment having been present-
Twenty three senators take their oath yesterday as judges of the Senate Impeachment Court that will try Vice President Sara Duterte as Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, at left, bangs the gavel to officially begin the start of the proceedings. Right photo shows proimpeachment rallyists outside the heavily guarded Senate complex. Lino Santos, Norman Cruz
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Bato’s camp rejects fugitive from justice tag By Pot Chavez THE camp of Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Monday defended the actions of the lawmaker, saying he is not a fugitive from justice as claimed by the Office of the Solicitor General.
“That is an act of self-preservation because we all know that precedent has shown that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s unlawful arrest remains under question, and yet he is languishing somewhere in a foreign country beyond the reach of our laws,” lawyer
Jimmy Bondoc said in an interview. Meanwhile, Atty. Israelito Torreon, counsel for Dela Rosa, filed its response yesterday to the comment of the Office of the Solicitor General. “We leave the outcome to Allah but i Next page
WANTED.
Members of Akbayan Youth install ‘Wanted: Bato’ posters along Kalayaan Avenue yesterday as part of a protest calling for accountability from Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa who continues to elude arrest after leaving the Senate following the shooting incident. Manny Palmero
Alan retains Senate presidency; Minority gains 2 new members By Ram Superable and Charles Dantes SENATE President Alan Cayetano held on to the leadership position amid fresh coup rumors at the Upper Chamber. The minority gained two members – JV Ejercito and Juan Miguel Zubiri – who previously abstained during last
week’s change in leadership that saw Tito Sotto unseated as Senate president. But even with 11 senators, the minority bloc still lacks two votes to have Cayetano replaced. In a manifestation on the floor, Zubiri said he wanted to be associated with the minority bloc. Next page
‘AYUDA.’ President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. leads the distribution yesterday of 10-kilo
bags of rice to workers, senior citizens, and middle-income households in Makati City. With the President is Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay. The President also handed financial assistance worth P20,000.00 each to 115 presidential scholars from 23 barangays during the ‘Bawat Bayan Makikinabang’ event. PCO
PBBM shows no sign of losing confidence on Jonvic—Palace By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not shown any sign of having lost faith in Local Governments Secretary Jonvic Remulla, according to Palace spokesperson Claire Castro. “I have not seen any signs that the President has lost trust in Secretary Jonvic Remulla as of now,” Castro said, citing a recent meeting between Marcos and Remulla DBM acting Sec. Kim Robert De Leon
last week. Castro also said the Palace held no discussions regarding proposals to replace Remulla. “There is still no comment about that issue. There is no conversation about that,” Castro said during a press briefing when asked about mounting calls for leadership changes at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Questions surrounding Remulla’s position emerged after criticism of what some observNext page
Marcos disappointed with Senate disturbances By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was disappointed by recent developments in the Senate surrounding the failed attempt to serve an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela
Rosa, according to Malacañang. At the same time, the Palace dismissed claims that the Senate was placed under siege during the controversy surrounding the attempted service of an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, saying the chamber was “never
NBI volunteer driver tested positive for gunpowder—SPD By Vince Lopez THE Southern Police District on Monday said the alleged driver from the National Bureau of Investigation who was arrested by members of the Police Security and Protection Group at the
Senate building on May 13 tested positive for gunpowder nitrates. SPD Public Information Office chief Lt. Margaret Panaga said during a media interview at the Philippine National Police Press Corps that the driver’s paraffin test Next page
under attack.” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro on Monday said President Marcos believes government institutions must uphold the Constitution and enforce the law instead Next page
PH LOSING P141B TO ILLICIT VAPE NEWS / A3
NEW LOW: PESO AT P61.75 TO US$ BUSINESS / B2