Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan claims senators received 'leadership fund' up to ₱1 billion each

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan on Wednesday claimed before the Sandiganbayan that all senators received a so-called "leadership fund" since 2024.

According to Super Radyo dzBB's Allan Gatus, Bonoan said in his testimony that the "leadership fund" is allocated by the DPWH for senators recommending a list of projects. Each senator allegedly had a ₱500-million allocation, while those who have committee chairmanships received ₱1 billion each, he claimed.

Overall, the leadership fund amounts to ₱24 billion with the discretion of then-Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Bonoan said. He further alleged that Zubiri had the authority to hike the allocations.

Bonoan also claimed that then-DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo asked former senator Bong Revilla and Senator Jinggoy Estrada to submit a list of projects.

The former DPWH chief also said that Senators Bong Go and Robin Padilla also submitted such a list.

Bonoan also alleged that Padilla and Senator Imee Marcos thanked him for his "assistance."

Never requested

For his part, Zubiri denied Bonoan's allegations against him, saying he never handled such a list.

"For the record, as Senate President, I never requested, held, or handled any list of project requests from senators. I refused to handle any such list," he said in a statement.

"Walang pong dumaan na proposed budget amendments sa ating tanggapan. Alam ng mga senador 'yan. Lahat ng request ay coursed through the Senate Committee on Finance, na siyang tagapangasiwa ng budget process sa Senado," Zubiri added.

(No proposed budget amendments were received by our office. The senators know that. All requests are coursed through the Senate Committee on Finance, which oversees the budget process in the Senate.)

But he also said he saw nothing wrong with making institutional amendments.

"With that said, I see nothing wrong with making institutional amendments to support roads, bridges, airports, seaports and other critical infrastructure for far-flung communities, as long as these are requested and approved by the implementing agency, properly carried out and free from any interference driven by personal interests or corruption," he added.

During the Senate plenary session, Zubiri said that he sees nothing wrong with institutional amendments as long as there's no anomalous projects.

"As long as it is devoid of influence by the legislator on the choosing of contractor...as long as it is no corruption, it is transparent and requested by the agency, I don't see anything wrong, Mr. President. So again, I reiterate that there's nothing wrong with institutional amendments for as long as projects are properly implemented...Hindi po siya dapat [They should not be] ghost projects or substandard," he said.

Marcos, meanwhile, said she is not aware of Bonoan's claims.

"Parati naman akong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng department kung mayroon silang gagawin sa Ilocos Norte. Kababayan ko si Secretary Bonoan. Hindi ko alam kung anong pasasalamat ang tinutukoy diyan," she said in a press conference.

(I always express my gratitude to all departments whenever they carry out projects in Ilocos Norte. Secretary Bonoan is my provincemate. I don't know what specific expression of thanks is being referred to there.)

Basis and motive

Go also denied the allegations thrown at him by the former DPWH chief.

"Mahirap mag-react sa isang isyu na hindi natin alam kung ano ang pinagbabasihan at ano ang motibo. Mabuting ibalik ang tanong sa nagbanggit nito," he said in a manifestation during the Senate plenary session.

(It is difficult to react to an issue when we don't know the basis or the motive. It would be better to direct the question back to the person who mentioned it.)

"Siya ang akusado (He's the one accused). It would be best that he focuses his defense on proving his innocence rather than dragging our work as legislators into their mess," he added.

Go also said that he did not submitted any list of projects to Bernardo.

"Ano bang listahan ang tinutukoy niya? Dahil sigurado po ako na wala naman tayong ipinasang listahan kay Usec. Bernardo," he said.

(What list is he referring to? Because I am certain that we didn't submit any list to Usec. Bernardo.)

GMA News Online reached out to the other senators mentioned for comment, but they have yet to respond as of posting time. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/AOL/ VAL/ VDV/BM, GMA News