The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will summon Sofonias “Ponyong” Gabonada, former House Deputy Secretary General, following allegations that he served as a “bagman” for former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa proposed the move after Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib linked Gabonada to questionable wealth tied to flood control projects in the province. The senator said Gabonada’s presence in the next hearing is essential to clarify allegations of corruption.
Governor Jubahib earlier disclosed that Gabonada owns numerous properties, including a ₱30-million house in Tagum City filled with luxury vehicles, a ₱50-million beach resort in Davao de Oro, and heavy equipment worth more than ₱200 million. Jubahib questioned how Gabonada could afford such assets on a monthly salary of ₱200,000 as a House official.
The governor stressed that the case merits investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman alongside a Senate inquiry. He argued that the alleged accumulation of wealth was disproportionate to Gabonada’s income, pointing to possible misuse of public funds.
The controversy gained traction after Romualdez was named among those who allegedly benefited from infrastructure project funds. The Blue Ribbon Committee is currently investigating irregularities in flood control allocations, which critics say have been riddled with anomalies.
Gabonada, a native of Davao del Norte, has not yet issued a public statement on the allegations. His testimony before the Senate is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether funds intended for flood mitigation were diverted for personal gain.
The next Blue Ribbon hearing is set to intensify scrutiny over both Gabonada and Romualdez, placing the Davao flood project scandal at the center of the corruption debate in Congress.
