Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manny Bonoan allegedly submitted incorrect coordinates of flood control projects to Malacañang, an act that may have misled investigations, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said.
“I received reliable information that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately submitted to Malacanang incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects all over the country which form part of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website,” Lacson said during the Kapihan sa Senado media forum on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Lacson said the erroneous data resulted in inaccurate information on at least 421 ghost projects, which the DPWH is trying to correct .
“Niloko niya si pangulo [He deceived the president],” he said.
Lacson said it appeared as an attempt to cover up irregularities, mislead authorities, and discredit the investigation.
“Kasi pag pumalpak ka sa tatlo, apat, limang ghost (projects), ibig sabihin wala iyang Sumbong sa Pangulo website, hindi reliable iyan,” he explained.
[Translation: If you fail on three, four, five ghost projects that means that Sumbong sa Pangulo website is for nothing, it’s unreliable.]
Bonoan has been in the United States since November to accompany his wife for a medical procedure. Although he earlier said he would return on Dec. 17, he has yet to do so.
Bonoan will now be subpoenaed to compel his appearance at the resumption of the flood control probe on Monday, Jan. 19, Lacson said. Failure to comply could lead to the issuance of an arrest order, which would require coordination with US authorities to facilitate his return to Manila.
Earlier, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that Bonoan, along with the late Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, allegedly led a kickback system within the agency. The scheme reportedly involved “allocables”—funds assigned to congressional districts with lawmakers’ influence—similar to the discretionary pork barrel funds previously declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Bonoan has earlier denied any involvement in corruption within the agency.
Meanwhile, Lacson said DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has committed to submit to the Senate key documents, including the so-called “Cabral files.” These documents were allegedly left behind by Cabral and reportedly contain records of “allocables” and the officials involved, including lawmakers and Cabinet members.
