Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday accused former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan of deliberately submitting false data to Malacañang on alleged ghost flood control projects, saying the move may have been intended to derail or discredit the government’s investigation.

Speaking with the media during the Kapihan sa Senado, Lacson said he received “very reliable information” indicating that Bonoan provided incorrect grid coordinates for thousands of flood control projects nationwide, data that later formed part of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website.

According to Lacson, the erroneous coordinates resulted in grossly inaccurate listings, including 421 supposed ghost projects that conflicted with flood control sites previously inspected and reported by the DPWH itself.

“Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately submitted incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects all over the country,” Lacson said, adding that the department is now scrambling to correct the records by cross-checking them with intact documents such as the Multi-Year Planning and Scheduling (MYPS) system and the Project and Contract Management Application (PCMA).

Lacson said Bonoan’s actions point to complicity in a cover-up, despite his claims of not being a “principal player” in the controversy.

“Even if he insists he is not a principal player, we can very clearly see his complicity in covering up the crime,” he lamented.

The senator said he is not discounting the possibility that Bonoan—who, according to testimony by former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, allegedly received billions of pesos in kickbacks from infrastructure projects—fed false data to weaken public confidence in the probe.

“He is misleading the Palace to weaken or discredit the investigation into ghost flood control projects. If several projects in the Sumbong Sa Pangulo website turn out to be false, people will think it is not reliable,” he said.

He added that this could explain why Bonoan earlier disputed the existence of at least one alleged ghost flood control project in Mindoro, claiming incorrect grid coordinates that Bonoan himself had supplied.

“That could be why he claimed the grid coordinates in the projects we cited were wrong - because he knew he gave the wrong data. But little did he know that we used different sources in locating and identifying ghost flood control projects in my two privilege speeches,” Lacson disclosed.

Subpoena, possible arrest

Lacson said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs, will seek to uncover the full extent of the alleged data manipulation during  the hearing by subpoenaing key DPWH documents, including records left by the late Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.

He said current DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has committed to sending two undersecretaries to testify and bring relevant documents.

Lacson said Bonoan will be among those subpoenaed. 

Should he again fail to appear, the committee may cite him in contempt and issue a legislative arrest warrant, he added.

If necessary, Lacson said the committee will coordinate with Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose “Babe” Romualdez to work with US authorities for Bonoan’s deportation, noting that his stay in the US is time-limited.

“Bonoan's stay in the US will expire; he cannot stay there forever. The longest stay in the US is six months. Beyond that, his stay will become unauthorized, and he may be arrested and brought back, either through extradition or deportation,” Lacson warned.

Investigating other angles

Lacson also said the committee will clarify with Bernardo the circumstances surrounding a reported attempt by former PNP chief and now MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III to place Bernardo under his custody before Bernardo’s third Senate appearance.

“It is still a big wonder to me why Gen. Torre entered the scene,” Lacson said.

In addition, the committee will seek clarification from the so-called BGC Boys following reports that they have recanted or plan to recant their testimonies before the Senate or other investigative bodies.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control scandal is scheduled to resume on Monday, 19 January.