Former DPWH Secretary Bonoan Named Key Figure in Philippine Flood Control Probe

Philippine lawmaker Antonio Tinio has called for the immediate return of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, insisting he must face investigation over alleged large-scale irregularities in flood control projects.

Tinio said Bonoan, as DPWH secretary at the time, held ultimate authority over project approvals and funding releases, stressing that no allocation could be approved and no public funds could move without Bonoan’s knowledge and clearance.

“If there is anyone who knows more than the undersecretaries combined, it is their boss Secretary Bonoan,” Tinio said. “No allocations, no movement of funds inside DPWH happened without his go-signal.”

The lawmaker also demanded the recovery and public disclosure of a detailed list of project proponents reportedly prepared by former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. According to Tinio, the document could expose who was behind questionable infrastructure projects and help trace accountability.

Tinio warned authorities to secure the documents immediately, saying they must not be destroyed or concealed to protect those allegedly involved in what he described as the systematic plunder of DPWH funds.

He further criticized the administration for allowing Bonoan to resign early and leave the country, saying this effectively placed the former DPWH chief beyond public scrutiny.

“He was allowed to walk away and leave the country. He should be brought back and subjected to a full and thorough investigation,” Tinio said.

Tinio urged the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies to secure Cabral’s records and coordinate with immigration authorities to ensure Bonoan’s return.

He also questioned whether senior Cabinet officials would truly be investigated or shielded from scrutiny, asking whether the government’s anti-corruption campaign is genuine or merely a cover-up.

Bonoan reportedly flew to the United States and was expected to return on December 17. However, Philippine immigration authorities said they have no record of his return.