ICI wants Bonoan, 2 others probed over ghost project

MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate resigned public works chief Manuel Bonoan and two former undersecretaries for possible liability over a P72.3-million “ghost” flood control project in Plaridel, Bulacan.

At a briefing yesterday, ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said Bonoan and former public works undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Maria Catalina Cabral should be investigated for “potential violations” of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The ICI recommendations were contained in an 18-page interim report submitted to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, detailing irregularities in the non-existent P72.3-million riverbank protection structure construction project in Plaridel, Bulacan undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan (DPWH) 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) with contractor Topnotch Catalyst Builders. Inc.

“Public office is a public trust. Public office means sacrifice for the betterment of the Filipino people and not to make your life better at the expense of the people,” Reyes said, reading from a statement.

“Based on the circumstances at hand, the DPWH public officials appear to have been grossly negligent, if not remiss, in the performance of their respective duties to ensure that the project was properly implemented and that government funds were properly disbursed,” the ICI noted.

“Under the Administrative Code of 1987, secretary Bonoan was granted the authority and responsibility to exercise the mandate of DPWH and to discharge the powers and functions of DPWH. As secretary, he had supervision and control of DPWH,” the ICI said.

“The above-described scheme perpetrated by senior DPWH employees was made possible because secretary Bonoan betrayed such trust reposed on him,” it added.

“He miserably failed to exercise simple diligence tantamount to fraud in ensuring the judicious use of public funds entrusted to DPWH,” the ICI pointed out.

Based on DPWH documents, “the plunder of public funds happened right under his nose,” the ICI said, referring to Bonoan.

“Were it not for the President’s 2025 SONA, secretary Bonoan’s inexcusable negligence tantamount to fraud would have resulted in further plunder of public funds,” the ICI stressed.

On Bernardo and Cabral, the ICI said “their duties and responsibilities pertaining to Operations and Planning, respectively, made them intimately in the know of the activities of senior DPWH officials and responsible for the overall economical, efficient and effective administration of public funds entrusted to DPWH.”

The ICI also recommended the filing of administrative charges against former DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO officials and personnel Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Ernesto Galang, Jaypee Mendoza, John Michael Ramos, Irene DC Ontingco, Joshua Blitz Roxas and Bernardo Villafuerte.

The ICI earlier recommended the filing of criminal charges against Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Mendoza, Ramos, Ontingco, Roxas and Villafuerte, as well as against Topnotch Catalyst president Eumir Villanueva and other corporate officers and shareholders of the construction firm.

‘More raps coming’

The ICI said its recommendation “is without prejudice to the application of other laws and regulations” that the ombudsman “may deem proper in filing the appropriate charges.”

“This recommendation likewise does not preclude the Honorable Ombudsman from identifying other persons who may be held liable in relation to the Project,” the ICI pointed out.

Reyes said the public should expect more referral of cases to the ombudsman. “More are coming,” he said.

The ICI clarified that it does not make categorical findings of guilt and that responsibility for determining liability rests with the proper authorities.

“This interim report is intended to assist in ensuring accountability in infrastructure projects and in protecting the integrity of public funds. This briefer affirms the ICI’s mandate to promote transparency and its duty to responsibly provide the public with reliable and accurate information,” it explained.

As the ICI begins submitting recommendations to the ombudsman, Malacañang said it will study the proposed bill giving the commission greater powers. House Bill 4453 seeks the creation of an Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption, which in essence is a strengthened ICI.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the pronouncement in reaction to former solicitor general Florin Hilbay’s assertion that the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) should be at the forefront of investigation on graft and corruption in the government.

“What is included in the bill, it will be studied carefully and if they can pass it into law, the President can’t do anything about it because that’s the job of our legislators, to pass laws,” Castro said.

Hilbay noted that the government already has the full institutional capacity and authority to go after all erring public officials, including those involved in infrastructure, flood control and ghost projects.

Vehicle auction

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs announced that seven luxury vehicles once owned by the contractor-couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya would be auctioned off on Nov. 17 as part of efforts to recover stolen taxpayers’ money.

In total, the BOC revealed that the seven luxury cars set for auction carry a total floor price of P103.59 million.

The vehicles include Toyota Tundra 2022, Toyota Sequoia 2023, Lincoln Navigator L 2021 and Mercedes-Benz G 500 2019. It also includes the high-end Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 and the Bentley Bentayga 2022.

The most expensive among them is the 2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which carries a floor price of P45.31 million. — Delon Porcalla, Marco Luis Beech, Bella Cariaso, Evelyn Macairan