The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is recommending to the Office of the Ombudsman to file administrative cases anew against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, including former chief Manuel Bonoan, due to irregularities in a P74 million flood control project in Hagonoy, Bulacan.
In a statement on Thursday, ICI Chair Andres Reyes said the commission is asking the Ombudsman to assess potential violations of the code of conduct and ethical standards on the part of Bonoan and other former DPWH officials, including former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo and former DPWH Usec. Maria Cabral.
The commission has also referred to the Ombudsman to assess whether the following individuals may have violated the anti-graft, malversation, and other laws:
Former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara
Former DPWH Bulacan first district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez
Engr. Ernesto Galang
Engr. Jolo Mari V. Tayao
Engr. John Michael Ramos
Engr. Lemuel Ephraim Roque
Darcy Kimel D. Respecio, the owner of Darcy and Anna Builders and Trading, which was the contractor of the project, was also included in the list of the recommended individuals for the filing of graft and malversation cases.
According to Reyes, the flood control project implemented by the Bulacan first district engineering office involves a riverbank protection structure in Brgy. Carillo in Hagonoy. It was contracted in 2024 with an exact contract cost of P74,111,970.05.
Meanwhile, Reyes said that based on the Commission on Audit report, no structure was found at the location of the bid plans.
This is the third time the ICI recommended an administrative case against Bonoan and other former DPWH officials.
The former DPWH chief was also recommended to be among the respondents in administrative charges on ICI’s third and fourth referrals on November 4 and 6 over potential anomalies in a P72-million flood control project in Plaridel, Bulacan, and a P95-million flood control project in Bocaue, Bulacan, respectively.
Bonoan left for the United States on Tuesday afternoon, the Bureau of Immigration earlier confirmed.
After the report circulated, ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said the commission will continue to investigate and make referrals to the Ombudsman against individuals who may be responsible for the infrastructure anomalies, ‘regardless of their whereabouts.’