Lacson links ex-DPWH chief Bonoan to Bulacan flood contractor

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Tuesday revealed that former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan had a “family business” with Candaba, Pampanga Mayor Rene Maglanque whom he said is a contractor of multi-billion worth of flood control projects. 

In a privilege speech, Lacson said that Maglanque was the former president of construction company Globalcrete Builders, which allegedly secured a P2.195-billion worth of flood control projects from 2018 to 2024 in Bulacan alone.

“Si Mayor Rene Maglanque ang presidente noong 2024 na kung saan may mga kontrata na siya mismo ang pumipirma na dapat sana ay nagdivest siya,” Lacson said.

(Mayor Rene Maglanque was the company president in 2024 where there were contracts that he himself signed but should’ve divested.) 

The senator said that Maglanque is also the owner of the MBB Global Properties Corporation which owns the Wyndham Garden Hotel sa Clark, Pampanga that was built for almost P1 billion. 

Lacson noted that based on the firm’s 2024 general information sheet, the following are the executives of MBB Global Properties Corporation:

• Macy Monique Maglanque, President
• Sunshine M. Bernardo, Corporate Secretary
• Fatima Gay B. (Bonoan) Dela Cruz, Treasurer

Lacson pointed out that these individuals are children of Mayor Rene Maglanque, DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and Manuel Bonoan, respectively. 

He said that the MBB stands for Maglanque, Bernardo, and Bonoan. 

“Kayo na po ang mag-connect the dots,” Lacson said. 

(I’ll let you connect the dots.) 

“Kaya naman pala ang palaging depensa ni dating DPWH secretary Bonoan, isolated case lang daw ang nakita ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na ghost project sa Bulacan. Ayaw na siguro ni Bonoan na maungkat pa sa imbestigasyon ang Globalcrete,” he added. 

(Maybe this was why former DPWH secretary Bonoan constantly said that what President Bongbong Marcos saw as a ghost project in Bulacan was an isolated case. Maybe Bonoan doesn't want Globalcrete to be dragged into the investigation.) 

GMA News Online reached out to Bonoan and Maglanque for comments and will publish these once available.

Malacañang previously announced the resignation of Bonoan from the top DPWH post. He was replaced by Vince Dizon, who previously served the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as secretary.  

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had said he accepted the resignation of Bonoan due to command responsibility. 

Meanwhile, Lacson on Tuesday said that DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral has denied that she offered to make insertions in the 2026 National Expenditure Program.

“The Usec that I mentioned to have offered our senate president to make 'insertions' in the 2026 NEP vehemently denied it to her new boss, DPWH Sec Vince Dizon, and to his face at that, was actually lying through her teeth. Dapat alam niya na hindi ako basta nagsasalita nang walang katibayan,” Lacson said during his priviledge speech.

GMA News Online will publish Cabral's comment as soon as it is available. —AOL, GMA Integrated News