Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan faced a rare public rebuke from Senator Win Gatchalian, who accused him of failing to act on alleged irregularities in flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
At the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Gatchalian bluntly told Bonoan:
“Whether allocable, non-allocable, nakakuha kayo ng kickback.”
The senator raised his voice as he criticized Bonoan’s leadership.
“And the fact is, nandito tayo ngayon dito sa hearing because for the last (three) years, pinabayaan nyo na nangyayari ito under your watch. You’re the secretary of the DPWH,” he said.
Gatchalian alleged that ghost projects and “20 to 25% bigayan” persisted under Bonoan’s watch, claiming the former secretary may have earned as much as ₱2.2 billion in commissions from graft-tainted projects.
Bonoan, however, denied the accusations.
“I completely deny, your honor. I don’t have any allocable amount. I don’t even recall actually talking about any projects at all,” he said.
But Gatchalian insisted the allegations could not be brushed aside.
“Lahat ng kasamahan ninyo alam in 2025 na (may) kickback na nangyari. Kayo lang hindi nakakaalam,” he said.
The senator added that poor leadership had stalled progress.
“Dapat ang pinakikinggan natin kung paano umunlad yung bansa natin. Pero dahil po sa inyong masamang liderato, nandito tayo ngayon,” he said.
Visibly frustrated, Gatchalian concluded:
“I’m just airing out my frustration as a Filipino… Nakaka-frustrate na nandito tayo ngayon, pinakikinggan natin ito.”
The heated exchange underscored tensions in the ongoing probe into alleged corruption in flood control projects.