Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately misled President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by submitting incorrect grid coordinates for alleged “ghost” flood control projects uploaded to the Sumbong sa Pangulo website.
Lacson said the act could be considered deception, noting that the information provided to the president was bloated. According to the senator, the actual number of questionable or nonexistent flood control projects was fewer than 421, contradicting the data earlier submitted.
“I have reliable information that former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately submitted to Malacañang incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects all over the country,” Lacson said.
The senator, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said the inaccurate coordinates created a misleading picture of the scope and location of the alleged projects. He added that the submission of wrong data affected how the complaints were reflected on the presidential complaints platform.
Lacson said the DPWH is now rectifying the matter to correct the information previously submitted. He did not provide details on how the corrections are being made, but said the issue is being addressed internally.
Based on information received by Lacson, Bonoan is currently in the United States. The senator said authorities are aware of the former official’s whereabouts.
Bonoan has resigned from his post as DPWH secretary. No statement from Bonoan was cited in Lacson’s remarks.
