Malacañang confirmed on Saturday, September 13, that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan will not be spared from the upcoming investigation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
The announcement came after Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, in a privilege speech last week, revealed Bonoan’s links to Candaba, Pampanga Mayor Rene Maglanque and MBB Global Properties.
Maglanque was previously president of Globalcrete Builders, a construction firm that secured ₱2.195 billion worth of flood control projects in Bulacan.
“Opo, nalaman na po ito dahil ito na-report na rin po ni (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon,” said Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro.
She stressed that the Marcos administration is firm in its stance that no allies, friends, or relatives will be exempt from the ICI’s investigation.
“At sinabi po natin kanina walang kaibigan, walang kaalyado, walang kamag-anak, lahat po na dapat imbestigahan ay iimbestigahan,” Castro said.
Bonoan resigned from his post as DPWH Secretary at the end of August following the surfacing of corruption allegations tied to the flood control projects.