Bonoan: I am not corrupt

MANILA, Philippines — Former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan yesterday maintained that he is clean of corruption.

On the sidelines of the House infrastructure committee’s inquiry yesterday, Bonoan said he resigned from his position for the sake of “transparency” in the alleged anomalous flood control projects nationwide.

“No. I can shout, ‘I am not involved,’” he stressed.

Bonoan also denied revealing any numbers pertaining to ghost projects.

“I didn’t say 60. We are still investigating all projects in Bulacan,“ he said.

More anomalies may be uncovered following President Marcos’ visit to two ghost projects in the province, he added.

Since he is no longer in the Department of Public Works and Highways, Bonoan said he cannot identify persons involved in anomalous flood control projects.

Fifteen contractors reportedly cornered 20 percent of the P545-billion budget for flood control projects nationwide in the past three years.

Bonoan resigned from his post on Monday after serving as DPWH chief since 2022.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Bonoan said. “I’m sure that we’ve done something good. In my three years in the department, we’ve done a lot of things.”

Bonoan said he has served 44 years at the DPWH, including his time as a civil engineer and acting public works secretary.

“This is in fact my second turnover. The first one was in July 2007, to a former police general who was interestingly the one who handed over the reins of leadership to me five years later, Zambales Governor Jun Ebdane,” he said. — Rainier Allan Ronda