Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is investigating a list of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control and other infrastructure projects reportedly “requested” by a Commission on Appointments panel member in exchange for the confirmation of then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan in late 2022.
Lacson said Saturday that the information surfaced while he and his staff continue to inspect suspected anomalous flood control projects in other parts of the country.
“We received information that during a CA hearing for Bonoan’s confirmation as DPWH secretary, the confirmation process was used for such a transaction,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM, citing information from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
In Filipino: Lacson Iniimbestigahan ang Listahan ng DPWH Infra Projects na ‘Hiningi’ ng CA Panel Member para sa Bonoan Confirmation
He also said he is validating the information from Bernardo that the one who made the “request” to Bonoan was from the House of Representatives panel at the time.
Meanwhile, Lacson said his team continues to check flood control projects including those in Metro Manila – including one where the flooding situation got worse after a pumping station was built there.
“If the project turns out to be substandard or ghost, that would mean new recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Committee for the proper agencies to build cases against those involved,” he said.
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Lacson Iniimbestigahan ang Listahan ng DPWH Infra Projects na ‘Hiningi’ ng CA Panel Member para sa Bonoan Confirmation
Iniimbestigahan ni Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang listahan ng mga flood control at iba pang infrastructure projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na umano’y “hinihingi” ng isang panel member ng Commission on Appointments, kapalit ng pagkumpirma kay noo’y DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan noong huling bahagi ng 2022.
Ani Lacson nitong Sabado, lumabas ang impormasyon habang patuloy siyang nag-iinspeksyon kasama ang kanyang staff sa mga flood control projects sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa, upang matukoy kung alin ang posibleng maanomalya o guniguning proyekto.
“Meron kaming information (na) sa pagdinig ng CA sa confirmation ni Bonoan as DPWH Secretary, naging kasangkapan ang confirmation para makapag-appropriate or makapagsingit,” ani Lacson sa panayam sa DZMM. Binanggit niya na galing kay dating DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo ang impormasyon.
Dagdag pa niya, kanyang sinusuri ang impormasyon mula kay Bernardo, na ang nag-“request” kay Bonoan ay miyembro ng House of Representatives panel noon.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na patuloy na sinusuri ng kanyang team ang mga flood control projects, kabilang ang sa Metro Manila. Kabilang dito ang lugar kung saan mas lumala pa ang pagbaha matapos maitayo ang isang pumping station.
“Kung naging substandard o ghost, ibang usapan yan. So magiging panibagong recommendation yan ng Blue Ribbon Committee, masampahan ng kaso kung sino ang may kagagawan,” ani Lacson.
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