Tag: Manuel Bonoan

Posted on

Lacson Scores Recurring Pattern of Hospitalization by Personalities Facing Arrest

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson scored on Saturday what he noted as a recurring pattern of hospitalization involving prominent personalities who are cited in contempt of the Senate, or are facing arrest for criminal cases.

Lacson said this was again the case when former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who both face plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan, were confined at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNP-GH).

“Since time immemorial, when a prominent personality is cited in contempt or faces arrest, he/she suddenly gets sick and needs to be hospitalized. Bonoan was arrested and was confined in the hospital. Before that, we have seen big personalities who are confined in the hospital instead of being brought to jail. This is the pattern I have noticed,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“This is the pattern that many ordinary Filipinos have brought to my attention, hence my recent post on X last July 8,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Pinuna ang Pattern ng Pagkaospital ng mga Personalidad na Nahaharap sa Pag-aresto

Continue reading “Lacson Scores Recurring Pattern of Hospitalization by Personalities Facing Arrest”

Posted on

Lacson: Ex-DPWH Secretary Bonoan Has Much to Reveal, But Must Also Make Restitution

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

Continue reading “Lacson: Ex-DPWH Secretary Bonoan Has Much to Reveal, But Must Also Make Restitution”

Posted on

Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel Pushing Ban on Allocables and Leadership Fund

Abolish the system of allocables and the “leadership fund” from the national budget, strengthen transparency in the budget process, and expand the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman to pursue corruption cases.

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday that these are among the emerging recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into anomalous flood control projects.

These are aside from the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings being instrumental in the ongoing preliminary investigations of the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman into key figures involved in the scandal – including former and incumbent lawmakers – as well as the trial happening at the Sandiganbayan, he emphasized.

Lacson pointed out that “almost all the recommendations in the partial committee report have already been overtaken by events as they are already being undertaken and in fact the said preliminary investigations are nearing completion if not completed already.”

“(Kasama sa rekomendasyon ng komite ang) ibawal ang allocables at leadership fund. Ito ang reporma tungkol sa budget. Tapos gawing transparent, of course ginawa namin sa 2026 budget, transparent ang entire budgeting process (Among the committee’s recommendations are to ban allocables and the leadership fund as part of reforms in the budgeting system. And make the crafting of the budget transparent, similar to what we did for the 2026 General Appropriations Act),” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel, Itinutulak ang Pagbabawal sa Allocables at Leadership Fund

Continue reading “Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel Pushing Ban on Allocables and Leadership Fund”

Posted on

Lacson Probes DPWH Infra Project List ‘Requested’ by CA Panel Member for Bonoan Confirmation

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

Continue reading “Lacson Probes DPWH Infra Project List ‘Requested’ by CA Panel Member for Bonoan Confirmation”

Posted on

Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan, South Forbes Property May Be Focus of Next Blue Ribbon Hearing

Unresolved issues involving former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, as well as the acquisition of a house and lot at 30 Tamarind Road in South Forbes in Makati City in 2023 where contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II was involved, may be the focus of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s next hearing on the flood control mess, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.

Lacson said Bonoan still has much to explain, including a seeming “pattern” of wrong grid coordinates for flood control projects in the report Bonoan submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“We can focus the next hearing on Bonoan to tackle other issues he can clarify. He is in the country so he can address the issues involving him,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan, South Forbes Property Maaaring Maging Sentro ng Susunod na Blue Ribbon Hearing

Continue reading “Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan, South Forbes Property May Be Focus of Next Blue Ribbon Hearing”