Lacson Links Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan to Pampanga Contractor Business

Resigned Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan turns out to be part of a family contractor business that bagged huge government projects in Pampanga, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson revealed Tuesday.

In his privilege speech, Lacson said Bonoan’s daughter Fatima Gay Bonoan-dela Cruz is treasurer of MBB Global Properties Corp., owned by the family of Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque.

“Kaya naman pala ang palaging depensa ni dating DPWH Secretary Bonoan – isolated case lang daw ang nakita ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na ghost project sa Bulacan. Ayaw na siguro ni Bonoan na maungkat pa sa imbestigasyon ang Globalcrete (So that’s why former DPWH Sec. Bonoan claimed the anomalous projects that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saw in Bulacan were ‘isolated cases.’ Perhaps Bonoan did not want the investigation to reach Globalcrete),” Lacson said.

In Filipino: Lacson Ikinabit si Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan sa Negosyo ng Kontrata sa Pampanga

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On the New Secretary of the DPWH

The President made both a hard decision and a good choice in Secretary Vince Dizon to replace a beleaguered DPWH secretary.

I have watched and followed Vince Dizon’s indefatigable, almost daily effort to solve the numerous problems that beset the transportation sector. I can only wish him Godspeed and more importantly, good health.

*****

‘Sayang’: Lacson Dismayed with DPWH Chief Bonoan over ‘Isolated Case’ Claim

Sayang.

This was how Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson expressed his dismay with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan for insisting that the extent of corruption involving flood control projects in Bulacan is an “isolated case.”

Lacson said that while he did not hear past or present DPWH officials speak ill of Bonoan, Bonoan’s “isolated case” claim indicate he is not a good or effective leader.

“In my talks with some DPWH officials, both past and present, I didn’t hear any scathingly bad words about Sec Bonoan. But for him to claim that Bulacan is an isolated case, he doesn’t strike me as a good, effective leader of his department. Sayang,” he said on X.

In Filipino: ‘Sayang’: Lacson, Nadismaya kay DPWH Sec. Bonoan sa Pagsasabing ‘Isolated Case’ ang Katiwalian sa Bulacan

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Lacson: Senators Not Beyond Suspicion in Flood Control Projects Row

Senators are not beyond suspicion in the controversy over anomalous and ghost flood control projects at this time, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said on Saturday.

Lacson noted that both his fellow senators and House members introduce insertions or amendments in the national budget bill, thus his repeated calls for transparency in the budgeting process.

“I am not saying it’s just members of the House. It is possible that some senators introduce insertions for such projects, and may even profit from the 25% share for the ‘funder’ or proponent of the insertions from the flood control project costs,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.

“I’ll put it this way. There may be senators and House members who may be connected to anomalous flood control projects,” he said in a separate interview on DZMM, when asked if there are senators who may have ties to the questionable projects.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Ligtas ang mga Senador sa Isyu ng Anomalya sa Flood Control Projects

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Lacson Demolishes DPWH Secretary’s Claim that Ghost Projects in Bulacan an ‘Isolated Case’

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday demolished the claim of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan that the ghost flood control projects in Bulacan’s first engineering district are an isolated case.

Lacson said that in looking into the greed and corruption behind several defective and ghost flood control projects, he had his staff conduct case studies not only in Bulacan but also in Mindoro and other areas.

He also stressed that now is the time for the DPWH to conduct a full internal audit of its projects, starting with the flood control projects.

“When you say it is an isolated case, it sounds like a defense mechanism. It suggests you don’t intend to conduct a full-scale and comprehensive investigation. And I expected that, so I had my teams check projects in other areas,” he said in Filipino in an interview on True FM, when asked about the matter.

“I expected that ‘isolated case’ line and I can say this is not an isolated case. That is why we conducted case studies in Pampanga, Northern Luzon and other areas, just to debunk the claims that Bulacan is an isolated case,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Dinurog ang Pahayag ng DPWH Secretary na ‘Isolated Case’ ang Ghost Projects sa Bulacan

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