Palace: Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan’s alleged contractor ties to be probed

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

Bonoan resigned from his post amid the investigation into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of flood control projects. (File Photo: Department of Public Works and Highways/Facebook)

MANILA – Malacañang on Saturday said the alleged links of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan to a Bulacan contractor will be investigated.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had been briefed on the recent developments involving the former DPWH chief.

“Opo, nalaman na po ito dahil ito na-report na rin po ni (Yes, this has been found out because it was also reported by) [DPWH] Secretary Vince Dizon,” Castro said.

“At sinabi po natin kanina walang kaibigan, walang kaalyado, walang kamag-anak, lahat po na dapat imbestigahan ay iimbestigahan (And we said earlier that no friends, no allies, no relatives will be spared. Everyone who needs to be investigated will be investigated),” she added.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson earlier alleged that Bonoan had a “family business” connection with Candaba, Pampanga Mayor Rene Maglanque, former president of construction firm Globalcrete Builders.

Globalcrete Builders reportedly secured PHP2.195 billion worth of flood control projects in Bulacan between 2018 and 2024.

Lacson also claimed that the daughters of Bonoan, Maglanque, and former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo are executives of MBB Global Properties.

Based on MBB’s general information sheet in 2024, its executives include president Macy Monique Maglanque, corporate secretary Sunshine Bernardo and treasurer Fatima Gay Bonoan-dela Cruz.

Bonoan resigned from his post amid the investigation into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of flood control projects.

Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers ordered the recall of Macy Monique Maglanque, currently labor attaché in Los Angeles, California, USA, to allow her to face an investigation.