Subpoena vs Bonoan to be withdrawn if plea to stay in US validated by DOJ —Lacson

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Friday said that the subpoena issued against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan will be taken back if his appeal to extend his stay in the United States for another month is validated. 

Lacson, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said that he will coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the matter. 

“Makikipagalam ako sa DOJ para ma-confirm ‘yung sinabi ni former secretary Bonoan at kung ia-affirm nila ‘yung sinabi, iaatras ko muna ang subpoena sa kanya, in fairness,” the senator said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(I will coordinate with the DOJ to confirm what former secretary Bonoan said and if the DOJ confirms it, we will withdraw the subpoena against him for the sake of fairness.) 

“Pero kung sabihin ng DOJ na hindi totoo, itutuloy ‘yung pag-serve ng subpoena at ‘pag hindi siya dumalo, eh ganon pa rin ang posisyon ng Blue Ribbon,” he added. 

(But if the DOJ says that it is not true, the subpoena will continue to be served and if he does not attend, then the Blue Ribbon's position will remain the same.)

Lacson said that Bonoan will be cited in contempt by the blue ribbon committee if he is not allowed to extend his stay in the US and he fails to attend the next hearing on the anomalous flood control projects set on Monday, January 19. 

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez earlier on Friday said Bonoan is still in the United States and promised to return to Manila on February 15 to face the allegations on his supposed role in the multi-billion peso flood control irregularities.

The ambassador said that the ex-DPWH chief is currently in California and has asked for permission to stay there for another month as his wife has eye problems.

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has signed the subpoena ad testificandum for Bonoan, and other individuals the blue ribbon committee wishes to hear from in the next flood control hearing. 

For Lacson, the blue ribbon panel could consider Bonoan’s excuse for humanitarian purposes and wait for his expected return to the Philippines by February 15.

“In fairness, alam niyo, operation or surgery ng misis niya ‘yun, importante para sa kanya ‘yun na personal. So hindi naman tayo ganon ka-istrikto ika nga, na hindi ikonsidera ‘yung humanitarian side. Makakapaghintay naman ng February 15 para makapagpaliwanag siya tungkol sa mga sinasabing mali-maling report na isinumite niya sa Malacañang,” he explained.

(In fairness, it's his wife's operation or surgery, and that's important to him personally. So we are not very strict here to not consider the humanitarian side. We can wait until February 15 so he can explain about the alleged false report he submitted to Malacañang.) 

Lacson had alleged that Bonoan deliberately submitted to Malacañang incorrect grid coordinates for thousands of flood control projects nationwide.

He said that Bonoan’s attendance in the blue ribbon committee hearing is vital in order for him to explain his side of the story. —VAL, GMA Integrated News