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Neil Jayson Servallos - The Philippine Star
January 18, 2026 | 12:00am
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan
DPWH photo
MANILA, Philippines — Tomorrow’s resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s probe on anomalous flood control projects will push through despite the absence of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.
“It (Bonoan’s absence) has no bearing though he is the one who should explain, because the misleading done through the submission of incorrect grid coordinates is almost established due to DPWH resource persons who will testify,” he said.
Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said Bonoan remains in California and has committed to return to Manila on Feb. 15, adding that the former official’s request to extend his stay was approved by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Lacson previously accused Bonoan of deliberately submitting incorrect flood control project data to Malacañang, allegedly to mislead the President, an allegation the former DPWH chief has yet to address publicly.
Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon committee, said the panel would push through with Bonoan’s subpoena and will ask the DOJ to clarify whether Bonoan was officially granted an extension to stay in the United States.
He added that Bonoan’s absence tomorrow could be considered on humanitarian grounds if his extended stay abroad was due to his wife’s medical condition.
Undue influence?
Meanwhile, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday challenged lawyer Ramon Esguerra to a face-to-face dialogue as he accused the latter of trying to influence dismissed DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza to recant their previous testimonies and clear Sen. Joel Villanueva of any involvement in the flood control scam.
In his “Executive Session” radio program on dzRH yesterday, Remulla said he is planning to personally warn Hernandez and Mendoza against Esguerra.
“We could give them time to think carefully about their position. Because this lawyer, Mon Esguerra, is using them, he wants to utilize them as springboard to clear (his client) Joel Villanueva,” Remulla said in Filipino.
Remulla, at a press briefing on Thursday, accused Esguerra of leaking the fake report that Hernandez, Mendoza and their fellow sacked engineer Henry Alcantara are considering recanting their previous testimonies on the supposed receipt of kickbacks by several senators and congressmen in the flood control scam.
On Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed before the Sandiganbayan cases of graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and six former officials of DPWH Bulacan First district engineering office, including Hernandez and Mendoza.
The cases stemmed from an alleged P92.8-million flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan, which turned out to be “ghost.”
Meanwhile, Hernandez was the first one to reveal Villanueva’s alleged receipt of kickbacks from flood control projects in Bulacan.
Alcantara later confirmed, during a Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing, that he delivered P150 million in kickbacks to Villanueva through the senator’s aide, a certain “Peng.”
Villanueva had previously denied the allegations. — Elizabeth Marcelo
