Ex-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately fed false data to Malacañang regarding ghost flood control projects, possibly to throw off the investigation into the matter, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bared Wednesday.
Lacson cited “very reliable information” reaching him showing the data led to incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects nationwide.
“I received reliable information that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately submitted to Malacañang incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects all over the country, which formed part of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website. This resulted in grossly inaccurate data involving some 421 ghost projects on previously inspected flood control projects earlier reported to the public by the said department and which they are now trying to rectify by comparing the records in their multi-year planning and scheduling or MYPS, Project and Contract Management Application or PCMA, and other related documents that remain intact and in the possession of the Department,” he said at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.
“Even if he insists he is not a principal player, we can very clearly see his complicity in covering up the crime,” he added, in a mix of English and Filipino.
In Filipino: Lacson: Sadyang Minali ni Ex-DPWH Sec. Bonoan sa Malacañang ang Datos ng mga Ghost Flood Control Projects
Lacson said he is not discounting the possibility that Bonoan – who former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified had received billions of pesos in kickbacks related to infrastructure projects – may have done this to weaken or discredit the government’s efforts to get to the bottom of the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects.
“He is misleading the Palace to weaken or discredit the investigation into ghost flood control projects. If several projects in the Sumbong Sa Pangulo website turn out to be false, people will think it is not reliable,” he said.
He added this could be why Bonoan at first contested the data on at least one ghost flood control project in Mindoro in his first privilege speech on the subject last year.
“That could be why he claimed the grid coordinates in the projects we cited were wrong – because he knew he gave the wrong data. But little did he know that we used different sources in locating and identifying ghost flood control projects in my two privilege speeches,” he said.
He said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs, intends to get to the bottom of this in its next hearing on Monday, Jan. 19, by subpoenaing DPWH documents, including those left by the late Undersecretary Catalina Cabral before she died.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has said he will send two undersecretaries to testify on the matter, and to bring the related documents, he added.
Lacson said Bonoan will be one of the personalities that the Blue Ribbon Committee will subpoena in its Jan. 19 hearing. If he still fails to show up, he will be cited in contempt of the committee, and a legislative arrest warrant may be issued against him.
If this happens, he said the committee will make arrangements with Philippine ambassador to the US Jose “Babe” Romualdez to coordinate with US authorities to deport Bonoan to the country.
“Bonoan’s stay in the US will expire, he cannot stay there forever. The longest stay in the US is six months. Beyond that, his stay will become unauthorized and he may be arrested and brought back, either through extradition or deportation,” he said.
Alleged Torre Custody Bid
Lacson said the Blue Ribbon Committee also intends to clarify with former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo the circumstances behind a failed attempt by former PNP chief and now MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III to take Bernardo under Torre’s custody, “and find out for what purpose.”
He said this happened before Bernardo’s third appearance, where Bernardo learned Torre was to give him sanctuary, but he did not want to be under his custody. At the time, Torre was not yet MMDA General Manager.
“It is still a big wonder sa akin bakit napasok sa scene si Gen. Torre (It is still a big wonder to me why Torre entered the scene),” Lacson said.
Also, Lacson said the Blue Ribbon Committee will also seek further clarification from the BGC Boys over reports that they have recanted or are planning to recant their testimonies before the committee or any other investigating body.
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Lacson: Sadyang Minali ni Ex-DPWH Sec. Bonoan sa Malacañang ang Datos ng mga Ghost Flood Control Projects
Sinadyang magbigay ng maling datos sa Malacañang ang dating Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Manuel Bonoan hinggil sa mga guniguning flood control project – posibleng upang iligaw ang imbestigasyon sa isyu, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang “reliable information” na nakarating sa kanya na nagpapakitang ang ibinigay na datos ay humantong sa maling grid coordinates ng libu-libong flood control project sa buong bansa.
“I received reliable information that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately submitted to Malacañang incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects all over the country, which formed part of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website. This resulted in grossly inaccurate data involving some 421 ghost projects on previously inspected flood control projects earlier reported to the public by the said department and which they are now trying to rectify by comparing the records in their multi-year planning and scheduling or MYPS, Project and Contract Management Application or PCMA, and other related documents that remain intact and in the possession of the Department,” aniya sa Kapihan sa Senado forum.
“Kahit sabihing hindi siya principal, sa cover-up pa lang kitang kita ang kanyang complicity,” dagdag niya.
Hindi isinasantabi ni Lacson ang posibilidad na ginawa ito ni Bonoan — na ayon sa testimonya ng dating DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo ay tumanggap umano ng bilyon-bilyong piso sa kickback kaugnay ng mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura — upang pahinain o sirain ang kredibilidad ng pagsisikap ng gobyerno na matukoy ang ugat ng katiwalian sa mga maanomalyang flood control project.
“Niligaw niya para ma-weaken o masira ang credibility na may ghost flood control projects… Pag pumalpak ka… (iisipin ng tao na) wala ang Sumbong sa Pangulo website, di reliable yan,” ani Lacson.
Dagdag niya, maaaring ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit una nang kinuwestiyon ni Bonoan ang datos sa hindi bababa sa isang ghost flood control project sa Mindoro sa kanyang unang privilege speech hinggil sa usapin noong nakaraang taon.
“Kaya pala sinasabi niyang grid coordinates mali, sa utak niya alam niyang minali niya,” aniya – nguni’t hindi alam ni Bonoan na ginamit ni Lacson at ng staff niya ang iba’t ibang sources sa paghanap at pag-identify sa mga ghost flood control projects na binanggit niya sa mga privilege speech niya.
Ayon kay Lacson, layon ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na kanyang pinamumunuan na alamin ang buong katotohanan sa susunod nitong pagdinig sa Lunes, Enero 19, sa pamamagitan ng pag-subpoena ng mga dokumento ng DPWH, kabilang ang mga iniwan ng yumaong Undersecretary Cabral bago siya pumanaw.
Dagdag ni Lacson, magpapadala si DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon ng dalawang undersecretary upang tumestigo sa usapin at dalhin ang mga kaugnay na dokumento.
Ani Lacson, isa si Bonoan sa mga personalidad na ipapatawag ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa pagdinig sa Enero 19. Kapag muli siyang nabigong humarap, maaari siyang sipain sa contempt ng komite at maglabas ng warrant of legislative arrest laban sa kanya.
Kung mangyari ito, sinabi ni Lacson na makikipag-ugnayan ang komite kay Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose “Babe” Romualdez upang makipagkoordina sa mga awtoridad ng Estados Unidos para ma-deport si Bonoan sa Pilipinas.
“Mag-e-expire ang stay niya, he cannot stay there forever. The longest stay sa US is 6 months. Kung lalampas siya doon magiging unauthorized ang stay niya… kung hindi extradition, deportation ang mangyayari,” aniya.
Torre Custody Bid?
Balak ng Blue Ribbon Committee na linawin kay dating DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo ang mga pangyayari sa likod ng bigong tangkang ilagay si Bernardo sa kustodiya ni dating PNP chief at kasalukuyang MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III, “and find out for what purpose.”
Ayon kay Lacson, nangyari ito bago ang ikatlong pagharap ni Bernardo, kung saan nalaman ni Bernardo na handa umano siyang bigyan ni Torre ng “sanctuary,” ngunit hindi niya nais na mapasailalim sa kustodiya nito. Sa panahong iyon, hindi pa MMDA General Manager si Torre.
“It is still a big wonder sa akin bakit napasok sa scene si Gen. Torre,” ani Lacson.
Dagdag pa ni Lacson, hihingi rin ang Blue Ribbon Committee ng karagdagang paglilinaw mula sa BGC Boys kaugnay ng mga ulat na binawi o plano nilang bawiin ang kanilang mga testimonya sa harap ng komite o ng alinmang iba pang nag-iimbestigang katawan.
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