ICI wants Bonoan, 3 more senators, others charged over flood control mess

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Thursday said it is recommending the filing of charges against former DPWH Secretary Manny Bonoan, three more current and former senators, and others over alleged corruption in flood control projects. 

“The Commission will be recommending that the Ombudsman assess whether there are possible potential violations of the Code of Conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees may exist on the part of former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan," ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. said at a press conference.

“We will be filing cases at least against three sitting or former senators. At least three, next week,” Reyes added.

The ICI earlier recommended the filing of complaint against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva.

P74-M ghost flood control project

Reyes said ICI recommended administrative complaint against Bonoan, former DPWH undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Catalina Cabral in connection with the P74 million non-existent flood control project in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Meanwhile, complaint for graft, malversation, and falsification were recommended against former Bulacan First District Engineering Office officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Ernesto Galang, Jolo Mari Tayao, John Michael Ramos, Lemuel Ephraim Roque as well as Darcy Kimel Respecio of Darcy & Anna Builders and Trading, the contractor of the Hagonoy project.

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

He added the results of the COA technical inspection, together with the available records, showed that the project was never implemented, despite the release and full payment of the contract cost by the DPWH to Darcy & Anna Builders & Trading.

“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.

The ICI submitted its recommendations to the Ombudsman Thursday, November 13.

“We will try our best to help the Ombudsman build up the cases. Our recommendations are firm enough, but we can still submit additional evidence when new evidence crops up,” Reyes added.

In the same press conference, Reyes said that the ICI is still evaluating if there is a need to livestream their proceedings.

“We might ask the [resource] person [if he or she will be okay with live streaming]. We’re studying the matter. Because these people are potential witnesses. And if they feel [they can be] harmed or [there is a] threat to their safety, we might ask [them for consent regarding live streaming]. We're still evaluating everything,” the ICI chairman said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News