Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan may have much to disclose as a potential state witness in the flood control scandal, but he must also make restitution for the billions in public funds lost to the anomalies, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said late Monday.
Lacson also said those who have dealt directly with Bonoan must be “quaking in their boots” due to the information the former DPWH chief can disclose.
“He certainly has a lot to reveal – from allocables to anomalous flood control and other defective infrastructure projects, including but not limited to the P500M in exchange for his Commission on Appointments confirmation as DPWH secretary in November 2022. With this new development, those who had direct dealings with him must be quaking in their boots,” Lacson said.
In Filipino: Lacson: Maraming Maibubunyag si Ex-DPWH Sec. Bonoan, Ngunit Dapat Ding Mag-Restitution
On Monday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will ask the Sandiganbayan to discharge Bonoan as a respondent in the cases he is facing in connection with some P573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects.
Remulla was quoted in reports as saying they have a “side agreement” for Bonoan’s cooperation as a state witness. Bonoan is a co-accused of Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada in a non-bailable plunder case before the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division, and in two counts of graft.
But Lacson stressed that Bonoan must also make restitution for the funds lost to the flood control mess.
He said this should take into account at least P1 billion based on the testimony of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and a two-percent “standard operating procedure (SOP)” based on the testimony of former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara.
Bernardo, in his supplemental affidavit dated Nov. 10, 2025, had said that Bonoan would ask him to take charge of part of his reserved allocations from time to time, and that the value of the projects he handled for Bonoan was at least P5 billion per year for 2023 to 2025, with a 15% average commitment.
He added that of this 15% average commitment, Bonoan would usually give him 25% of the commitment with the rest of the commitment shared between him and the late DPWH Usec. Ma. Catalina Cabral.
“At the very least, the amount must be based on earlier testimonies by resource persons of the Blue Ribbon Committee under my watch,” Lacson said.
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Lacson: Maraming Maibubunyag si Ex-DPWH Sec. Bonoan, Ngunit Dapat Ding Mag-Restitution
Maraming maaaring maisiwalat si dating Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan bilang posibleng state witness sa flood control scandal, ngunit dapat din siyang magbayad-pinsala para sa bilyun-bilyong pisong pondo ng bayan na nawala dahil sa mga anomalya, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na ang mga taong direktang nakipagtransaksiyon kay Bonoan ay dapat nang mangamba dahil sa mga impormasyong maaaring ilantad ng dating pinuno ng DPWH.
“He certainly has a lot to reveal – from allocables to anomalous flood control and other defective infrastructure projects, including but not limited to the P500M in exchange for his Commission on Appointments confirmation as DPWH secretary in November 2022. With this new development, those who had direct dealings with him must be quaking in their boots,” ani Lacson, na dating Blue Ribbon Committee chairman.
Noong Lunes, sinabi ni Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla na hihilingin niya sa Sandiganbayan na alisin si Bonoan bilang respondent sa mga kasong kinahaharap nito kaugnay ng tinatayang P573 milyong kickback mula sa mga proyektong flood control.
Ayon sa mga ulat, sinabi ni Remulla na mayroon silang “side agreement” kapalit ng kooperasyon ni Bonoan bilang state witness. Si Bonoan ay kapwa-akusado ni Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada sa isang kasong plunder na walang piyansa na nakabinbin sa Fifth Division ng Sandiganbayan, gayundin sa dalawang bilang ng graft.
Ngunit iginiit ni Lacson na dapat ding magbayad-pinsala si Bonoan para sa mga pondong nawala dahil sa anomalya sa mga proyektong flood control.
Aniya, dapat isaalang-alang dito ang hindi bababa sa P1 bilyon batay sa testimonya ng dating DPWH Undersecretary na si Roberto Bernardo, gayundin ang dalawang porsiyentong “standard operating procedure (SOP)” na binanggit sa testimonya ng dating Bulacan district engineer na si Henry Alcantara.
Sa kanyang supplemental affidavit na may petsang Nobyembre 10, 2025, sinabi ni Bernardo na paminsan-minsan ay ipinagkakatiwala sa kanya ni Bonoan ang pangangasiwa sa bahagi ng mga nakalaan nitong alokasyon. Aniya, ang halaga ng mga proyektong kanyang pinangasiwaan para kay Bonoan ay umaabot sa hindi bababa sa P5 bilyon kada taon mula 2023 hanggang 2025, na may karaniwang 15 porsiyentong commitment.
Mula sa nasabing 15 porsiyentong commitment, karaniwan umanong ibinibigay ni Bonoan sa kanya ang 25 porsiyento ng commitment, habang ang natitirang bahagi nito ay hinahati nila ng yumaong DPWH Undersecretary na si Ma. Catalina Cabral.
“At the very least, the amount must be based on earlier testimonies by resource persons of the Blue Ribbon Committee under my watch,” ani Lacson.
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