Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hEZ-W4jczXw?si=jvb1sUAiz1f2KhAf" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Department of Education (DepEd) undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and businessman Maynard Ngu on Monday denied their alleged involvement in the insertion of flood control projects in the previous years’ national budgets.</p><p>Under Bonoan&#x27;s stint as DPWH chief, former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo claimed he asked then Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara for a list of projects for possible funding, which were later included in the national budgets.</p><p>Bernardo also alleged Bonoan gave the go signal to give insertions to other lawmakers and public officials.</p><p>Bonoan, who was at the DPWH’s helm from 2022 to 2025, denied the allegations.</p><p>“I completely deny. I do not have any allocable amount,” he said during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.</p><p>Bonoan claimed he has an &quot;oversight&quot; mandate as secretary of DPWH, saying he relies on his people, including the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and regional directors.</p><p>Senators countered Bonoan’s statement.</p><p>Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chair Panfilo “Ping” Lacson argued that secretaries are supposed to be hands-on and not merely functioning as oversight.</p><p>“I cannot accept that because hands-on kayo, secretary kayo. I cannot imagine Secretary Dizon exercising oversight function over his own department. Kindly correct that because that is not correct,” he said.</p><p>Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, stressed that Bonoan, as secretary, supposedly has control over the department “all the way to the last janitor.”</p><p>Senators asked Bernardo if he had anything to ask following Bonoan’s denial, to which the former undersecretary responded: “I have already signed by affidavit. I affirm and I will stand by it.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/bonoan-co-respondent-of-estrada-in-plunder-complaint-1247">Bonoan co-respondent of Estrada in plunder complaint</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>OLAIVAR: &#x27;WALA PONG KATOTOHANAN&#x27;</strong></div><p>Former DepEd undersecretary Olaivar also denied Bernardo’s allegations that he also communicated with the latter for alleged project insertions for then-senator Sonny Agara and for “the Executive Secretary,” whom Bernardo did not name in his testimony.</p><p>Bernardo also said the DPWH later received a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) that included projects worth P2.85 million.</p><p>“I deny those allegations. Wala pong katotohanan. Lahat po from the communication to nag-deliver to kay ES daw po, na wala naman po akong personal [connection] kay executive secretary,” Olaivar said.</p><p>“That time in 2024, baka yun yung papasok kami sa DepEd. Wala po, kahit nakakausap si executive secretary, hindi po. Sa deliveries po, 15 percent, wala po,” he added.</p><p>Bernardo, during the Nov. 14 hearing, claimed Olaivar received deliveries representing 12 percent of Angara’s alleged projects while he was the Senate finance chair.</p><p>Angara denied the allegations.</p><p>The former education official said he was puzzled by the allegations as he and Bernardo never fought or argued.</p><p>“Wala ho akong makitang rason kung bakit ako ini-implicate niya,” he said.</p><p>Lacson, in response, said that Bernardo’s testimony of receiving a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) that included projects worth P2.85 million matched with the General Appropriations Act (GAA).</p><p>“Kung titingnan yung GAA, lalabas ang P2.85 billion from the unprogrammed appropriations. Paano mag-iimbento ng numero si Usec. Bernardo? Mahirap iyon. Sakto pag tiningnan natin yung GAA at SARO na na-release, sakto P2.85 billion,” Lacson said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>NGU: &#x27;I ABSOLUTELY DENY&#x27;</strong></div><p>Businessman Ng also denied Bernardo’s claim that he asked for a list of projects in 2024 for the then-new Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.</p><p>Bernardo also claimed he first delivered P160 million to Escudero in Ngu’s building in Manila, and made the second delivery of P120 million in the same place, both in early 2025.</p><p>“I absolutely deny all the allegations made by Usec. Bernardo,” Ngu said before the investigative panel.</p><p>He said he already filed a case against Bernardo on defamatory insinuation. During the hearing, Ngu invoked the sub judice rule, which prohibits public discussion on matters before a court to prevent to ensure fair trials.</p><p>But Sen. Francis Pangilinan explained the sub judice rule does not cover Senate committee hearings in aid of legislation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/bernardo-tags-more-officials-in-flood-control-kickbacks-1540">Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo tags more officials in flood control mess</a></div>

<p>Former Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Education undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and businessman Maynard Ngu on Monday denied alleged involvement in the insertion of flood control projects in the national budget</p>

Former Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Education undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and businessman Maynard Ngu on Monday denied alleged involvement in the insertion of flood control projects in the national budget

Bonoan, Olaivar, Ngu deny links to flood control project insertions

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Bonoan, Olaivar, Ngu deny links to flood control project insertions

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 19, 2026 07:26 PM PHT

Read More:

Manuel Bonoan

Trygve Olaivar

Maynard Ngu

Roberto Bernardo

Senate

Blue Ribbon Committee

flood control

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