Senator Panfilo Lacson accused former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan of deliberately submitting false data to Malacañang on flood control projects to mislead the investigation into alleged “ghost” projects.
Lacson said he received “very reliable information” showing Bonoan provided incorrect grid coordinates for thousands of flood control projects nationwide, resulting in inaccurate data on at least 421 supposed ghost projects listed on the Sumbong sa Pangulo website.
He said the DPWH is now trying to correct the discrepancies by reviewing intact records such as multi-year planning and scheduling or MYPS, Project and Contract Management Application or PCMA, and other official documents still in the department’s possession.
“Even if he insists he is not a principal player, we can very clearly see his complicity in covering up the crime,” according to the senator.
Lacson did not rule out the possibility that Bonoan—whom former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo earlier testified had received billions in kickbacks—fed wrong data to weaken or discredit the government’s corruption probe.
“He is misleading the Palace… If several projects in the Sumbong Sa Pangulo website turn out to be false, people will think it is not reliable.”
He added this may explain why Bonoan earlier disputed the coordinates of a ghost flood control project in Mindoro, noting the Senate used different sources to identify the projects.
Lacson said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will subpoena DPWH documents and key officials, including Bonoan, in its January 19 hearing. If Bonoan again fails to appear, he may be cited in contempt and face a legislative arrest warrant.
The committee will also look into an alleged attempt by former PNP chief Nicolas Torre III to take whistleblower Roberto Bernardo into his custody, as well as reports that some witnesses, including the so-called “BGC Boys,” may recant their testimonies.IMT
