Ex-DPWH chief to testify in corruption raps; restitution of funds sought

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan may have vital information to reveal as a potential state witness in the flood control mess, but he must also "make restitution" for funds lost to the anomalies, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Monday. Lacson added that Bonoan's possible testimony should alarm those who had direct dealings with the former DPWH chief. "He certainly has a lot to reveal—from allocables to anomalous flood control and other defective infrastructure projects, including but not limited to the P500 million allegedly given in exchange for his Commission on Appointments confirmation as DPWH secretary in November 2022," he said. "With this new development, those who had direct dealings with him must be quaking in their boots," he added. Earlier on Monday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he would ask the Sandiganbayan to discharge Bonoan as a respondent in cases involving an alleged P573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects. “We already have a side agreement for the cooperation of former Secretary Manuel Bonoan to be a state witness, to be a cooperating witness,” Remulla said in a press conference. “We will ask the court to discharge him as a respondent so he can testify for us as a state witness,” he added. Bonoan is a co-accused of Senator Jinggoy Estrada in a non-bailable plunder case before the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division, as well as in two graft cases. Lacson said the restitution should cover at least P1 billion, citing the testimony of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, as well as the alleged two-percent "standard operating procedure" disclosed by former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara. In his supplemental affidavit dated Nov. 10, 2025, Bernardo 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. —LDF, GMA News