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Resigned

Manuel Bonoan

Former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways

DPWH

Accusations

  • Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended administrative charges. Witnesses including former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo have stated that Bonoan was consulted on fund releases connected to the kickback scheme.
  • On August 19, 2025 publicly confirmed that ghost flood control projects existed in Bulacan and pegged contractor Wawao Builders' Bulacan portfolio at approximately P5.97 billion across 85 projects.

Denial

Bonoan resigned on August 31, 2025. His public posture has acknowledged the existence of irregularities while denying personal participation in any kickback arrangement.

Connected events

  1. Official action

    DPWH Secretary Bonoan resigns after confirming ghost flood control projects

    DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan resigns. Days earlier he had publicly confirmed that ghost projects existed in Bulacan and pegged contractor Wawao Builders' Bulacan portfolio at approximately P5.97 billion across 85 projects.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (1)

    Bonoan has publicly acknowledged the existence of irregularities in the flood control portfolio while denying personal participation in any kickback arrangement. His resignation statement framed the move as enabling the institution to focus on the investigation.

  2. Official action

    DOJ recommends plunder, graft charges vs Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and ex-DPWH chief Bonoan over flood control

    P355.0M Bulacan 1st district allocation cited in affidavit

    Plunder. Graft. Direct bribery. The Department of Justice forwarded those recommendations to the Office of the Ombudsman on May 18, naming Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan over the flood control kickback scheme.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (2)

    Estrada called the DOJ recommendation "baffling and unjust" in a May 19, 2026 statement, saying the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office found no record that he introduced any insertion into the budget. He had filed an omnibus motion before the DOJ on May 15 to reopen the preliminary investigation and present additional evidence.

    Bonoan's standing public posture, set on August 31, 2025 at the time of his resignation, has acknowledged the existence of irregularities in flood control projects while denying personal participation in any kickback arrangement. No fresh statement was issued in direct response to the May 18 DOJ resolution.