The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman its fifth report, containing its recommendation to file charges against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan and other former officials in connection with the P74 million flood control project in Hagonoy, Bulacan.
The commission’s recommendation covers a project handled by the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. The Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that it received the document on Thursday afternoon.
In an earlier statement, the ICI said Bonoan, former DPWH Undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Maria Cabral may have committed possible violations of the code of conduct and ethical standards.
Meanwhile, the following individuals may have violated the anti-graft, malversation, and other laws, according to the commission:
former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara
former DPWH Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez
Ernesto Galang
The project is a riverbank protection structure in Bocaue. However, the Commission on Audit (COA) discovered that no structure had been built at the location of the bid plans.
To date, the ICI has already referred five reports to the Ombudsman, including this project.
In September, the ICI filed its first report to determine the appropriate charges to be filed against 18 public officials, including resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co, in connection with the alleged irregularities surrounding the P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
A month later, the commission recommended that criminal and administrative cases be filed against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Joel Villanueva, Co, and three other individuals linked to suspected ‘ghost’ flood control projects.
This is in relation to the alleged ‘kickback scheme,’ based on the sworn affidavits and corroborating evidence provided by former DPWH officials Alcantara, Hernandez, and Assistant District Engineer Jaypee Mendoza.
On November 4, the ICI submitted its third report, recommending to the Ombudsman the filing of criminal and administrative cases against several former DPWH officials due to potential irregularities in a P72-million flood control project in Plaridel, Bulacan.
Two days later, the ICI lodged its fourth report, which contains its recommendations on the case of the P95-million flood control project in Bocaue, Bulacan.