Bonoan ‘missing link’ to tag ex-ES Bersamin in flood control mess, says Lacson

The testimony of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan can have direct implications on the involvement of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on the flood control scandal, should the former return to the country, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said on Sunday.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Lacson said that Bersamin’s alleged involvement in the mess is currently based on “triple hearsay.”

Lacson noted that Bersamin was mentioned to handle P52 billion worth of insertions for the DPWH, but that this was in a narration written by former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, based on an alleged discussion overheard by former Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar.

“Tama yung sinabi niya, triple hearsay. Ako naman, for evidenciary value, ninarrate ko lang kung ano yung narration ni Bernardo base sa aking mga notes. Maliwanag naman doon. Ang nagkwento kay Bernardo na nagusap si Bonoan at si Bersamin, si Olaivar. Kinwento niya kay Bernardo,” Lacson said.

(He’s right, it’s a triple hearsay. For me, for its evidenciary value, I just natrated what Bernardo had narrated based on my notes. It’s clear. It was Olaivar who told Bernardo that Bonoan and Bersamin talked. He told Bernardo.)

Lacson was referring to his earlier expose based on a supposed admission from Bernardo that the latter handled the distribution of about P52 billion in kickbacks from the P100 billion fund insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

The senator noted that due to the nature of the accusation, it would only be Bonoan who would be able to directly link Bersamin to the issue should he return, through statements backed with documentary evidence.

“Si Bonoan lang ang pwede mag-link directly kay ES Bersamin assuming na totoo yung sinabi ni Bernardo, assuming na totoo yung kwento ni Olaivar kay Bernardo pero alam mo nagaadd up naman ang mga events,” he shared.

(Bonoan is the only one who can directly link ES Bersamin assuming that what Bernardo said is true, and assuming that what Olaivar said to Bernardo is true, but you know the events do add up.)

“Pag sinumite namin lahat ng dokumento, bahala na magvalidate at iconvert nila sa kung ano mang evidenciary value ng isusubmit naming documents,” Lacon said.

(Once all these documents are submitted, it’s up to them to validate and convert what the evidenciary value of the documents we’ll be submitting are.)

Bonoan resigned as DPWH secretary after the scandal involving alleged kickbacks from fund insertions began to unravel. He later left the Philippines and traveled to the United States via Taiwan, reportedly to accompany his wife for a medical procedure.

Lacson conceded that where allegations stand, there is yet no evidence available to pin down Bersamin,

“Ebidensya ang magsasabi. Sa ngayon, wala tayong ebidensya. Walang ebidensya na sangkot si ES Bersamin. Kung si Bonoan mahuli, bumalik, nagkaroon ng arrest warrant at nagsalita, yan ang direct implication ni ES tapos yung pagpapakita natin ng documentary evidence, yun ang magpapatibay sa kaso kung meron mang maifa-file,” he added.

(The evidence will talk for us. As of now, we have no evidence. There’s no evidence that ES Bersamin is involved. If Bonoan is caught, returned, gets an arrest warrant, and talks, that’s the direct implication of ES and we will show documentary evidence to strengthen the case if any will be filed.)

Earlier, Bersamin denied involvement in the flood control controversy and noted that Bernardo was unable to provide a credible source of information save for the triple hearsay.

Despite this, Lacson had stood firm behind Bernardo’s statements, which included the triple hearsay of Bersamin allegedly claiming he would “take care” of the P52 billion insertions.—MCG, GMA Integrated News