Bonoan denies corruption allegations after DPWH exit

National

“NO. I can shout, ‘I am not involved.’”

Former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan declared this on Tuesday, firmly denying corruption allegations a day after stepping down from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Bonoan explained during a House infrastructure committee hearing that his resignation was intended to preserve transparency as investigations into alleged ghost flood control projects move forward. He clarified that he had not cited figures regarding the anomalies, noting that projects in Bulacan remain under review and that President Marcos’ recent inspection of two ghost projects could lead to more discoveries.

Reports have indicated that 15 contractors cornered 20 percent of the P545-billion budget for flood control initiatives over the past three years.

Asked who might be accountable, Bonoan said he could not name individuals since he is no longer part of the department.

The former DPWH chief, who was appointed in 2022, said he left the post without regrets, stressing that the agency accomplished significant work under his watch.

“I’m sure that we’ve done something good. In my three years in the department, we’ve done a lot of things,” he was quoted in a Philstar report.

Bonoan’s departure closes a government career that spanned 44 years, including service as a civil engineer, acting secretary, and later full secretary.

He recalled that this was the second time he had formally handed over DPWH leadership, the first being in 2007 to then-secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who eventually returned the position to him five years later.(MyTVCebu)