ICI wants criminal, admin raps vs. Bonoan, other ex-DPWH execs for 'unimplemented' P95-M Bulacan project

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, including former secretary Manuel Bonoan, over alleged anomalies in the P95 million flood control project in Bocaue, Bulacan.

ICI Chaiperson Andres Reyes, Jr. was referring to the slope protection structure and waterways in Brgy. Bambang, Bocaue, Bulacan built by the joint venture of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. and Beam Team Developer Specialist Inc.

Reyes said that based on a report endorsed by the Commission on Audit (COA), no structure was constructed at the location specified in the Approved Bid Plans. 

“The results of the COA technical inspection, together with the available records, clearly establish that the project was never constructed at the designated location in the Approved Bid Plans, thus, not implemented, despite the unwarranted release and full payment of the contract cost by the DPWH to Topnotch,” Reyes said.

Included in ICI's call are DPWH officials Manuel Bonoan, Roberto Bernardo, Maria Catalina Cabrala and ex-district Engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Ericson Hernandez.

“It appears that several DPWH public officials were 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 lawfully and prudently disbursed," Reyes added ahead of the ICI’s submission of its interim report to the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday afternoon.

Reyes said the Ombudsman should file graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of public documents and violation of Procurement law against Alcantara, Hernandez, as well as Jaime Hernandez, Ernesto Galang, John Carlo Rivera, John Michael Marcos, Claudine Magdalene Magsakay, Ericka Justine Chico and Allan Payawal.

Likewise, the ICI recommended the filing of administrative charges for grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, or for any violation of R.A. No. No. 6713, or Code of Conduct and Ethical  Standards for Public Officials and Employees against Bonoan, Bernardo and  Cabral in relation to the contract implementation of the project.

“Based on the Commission’s investigation, there exists sufficient factual and legal bases to recommend the filing of appropriate charges against, among others, these officials and private individuals who acted in concert and conspiracy  with one another, and/or with gross neglect of duty,” the ICI interim report read.

“Finding no plausible or lawful justification for the acts committed, the Commission deems it imperative to recommend to the Honorable Ombudsman the immediate initiation of the appropriate charges, as may be deemed proper, to redress the grave injury inflicted upon the government and the public interest, and to ensure that the erring public officials and/or private individuals are held fully accountable for their actions/omission,” the ICI added. 

Likewise, the ICI has recommended that the Ombudsman assess whether potential violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees may also exist on the part of Bonoan, Bernardo, and Cabral.

“Although a certificate of completion had been issued, the physical inspection of the site shows that the project was never implemented, nor could it have been completed, thereby rendering any payment released to Topnotch in connection therewith unlawful and unjustified,” the ICI interim report pointed out.

“Since these DPWH officials, among others, were required to participate in the preparation of the Statement of Work Accomplished and/or the Certificate of Completion, and their signatures were indispensable for the release of payment to Topnotch, thereby causing prejudice  to the government, there is ample basis to hold them liable under the applicable laws,” the ICI interim report added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News