Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Panfilo Lacson said on Saturday that he is investigating an alleged collusion between a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA) and former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan in 2022.
Lacson revealed that the allegation involves a list of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control and infrastructure projects that were reportedly “requested” by the CA panel member.
He noted that the matter may be linked to Bonoan’s confirmation as Public Works chief in late 2022.
“We received information that during a CA hearing for Bonoan’s confirmation as DPWH secretary, the confirmation process was used for such a transaction,” Lacson said in a radio interview, citing information from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
The senator added that he is verifying Bernardo’s claim that the individual who made the “request” to Bonoan was from the House of Representatives panel of the Commission on Appointments at the time.
Lacson also said his team is continuing its review of flood control projects, including those in Metro Manila, particularly one location where flooding reportedly worsened after a pumping station was constructed.
“If the project turns out to be substandard or ghost, that would mean new recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Committee for the proper agencies to build cases against those involved,” he explained.