Camille Naredo

Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, in his wheelchair,  leaves the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City after appearing for his arraignment on graft charges alongside Senator Jinggoy Estrada and other DPWH officials on June 2, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, in his wheelchair,  leaves the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City after appearing for his arraignment on graft charges alongside Senator Jinggoy Estrada and other DPWH officials on June 2, 2026.

Article (news)

FLOOD CONTROL- Estrada/ Bonoan

RG Cruz

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178654108242120260602-flood-control-corruption-bonoan-arraignment-JC6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, in his wheelchair, leaves the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City after appearing for his arraignment on graft charges alongside Senator Jinggoy Estrada and other DPWH officials on June 2, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/>Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, in his wheelchair,  leaves the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City after appearing for his arraignment on graft charges alongside Senator Jinggoy Estrada and other DPWH officials on June 2, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — Senators on Wednesday fired back at former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan during the plenary session of the Senate, after Bonoan testified about the allocables and leadership funds of Senators in the national budget before the Sandiganbayan.Bonoan testified that senators were allocated at least P500 million each under a DPWH “leadership” fund, while chairpersons of major Senate committees could receive up to P1 billion.In his judicial affidavit, Bonoan said a total of P24 billion was allocated for senators, but the amount each senator received was subject to the discretion of then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.Zubiri served as the Senate president from July 2022 until May 2024.He made the testimony at the Sandiganbayan&#x27;s Third Division, during the trial of former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. who is facing a malversation case over an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/12/bonoan-set-to-testify-in-revilla-trial-0850">Bonoan: At least P500-million DPWH ‘leadership funds’ allocated to each senator in FY 2025</a></div>Zubiri denied the allegations. &quot;I never handled projects lists. All requests were coursed through the Senate Finance Committee. For the record, as Senate President, I never requested, held or handled any list of project requests from senators,&quot; Zubiri said in his manifestation during Wednesday’s Senate session.He added that there are no ghost and substandard projects in his hometown of Bukidnon. &quot;With that said, I see nothing wrong with making institutional amendments to support roads, bridges, airports, seaports…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,&quot; Zubiri added, emphasizing that it is their responsibility to bring much-needed development to communities. Senator Pia Cayetano supported Zubiri&#x27;s manifestation and said they do not tolerate corruption. &quot;I&#x27;ll speak for myself, we don&#x27;t tolerate corruption here. But I also don&#x27;t tolerate that there are insinuations that we are doing wrong when we make amendments that are called insertions. Tatawaging insertion tapos may malisya na. Whether that is the news outlets, people out there from within the Senate, I object to that. That is not fair. Because it is our job,&quot; Cayetano said. She recalled standing up several times to insert or restore Philhealth funds during budget deliberations. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian agreed that part of their job is to help agencies and local government units and make the budget process transparent. &quot;Itong mga proposals and amendments ay ginawa nating transparent. Kaya ho tumagal ang proseso natin last year dahil lahat ng senador tumayo para iexplain ang kanilang mga amendments at mabigay ng supporting documents,&quot; Gatchalian said. &quot;Lahat ng amendment sa 2026 naka-upload sa website by senator, by request from agencies na puwede hong tignan ng ating mga kababayan itong inamend nating itesm sa 2026 budget. Even yung bicam. Kaya ho yung bicam umabot ng isang linggo…. at naka-livestream in full view of our constituents,&quot; he added. Current Committee on Finance Chairman JV Ejercito committed to continuing the reforms implemented by Gatchalian last year, when he held the same position. &quot;There were safeguards that were put in place and belt tightening and so on,&quot; Ejercito said. &quot;Of course, everything will be available online. The bicam will also be open, it will be an open bicam. And we will also consult the civil society organization so it will be a very open budget and all the information that will be needed will be readily available.&quot; Ejercito has also talked with their counterparts in the House of Representatives and assured that they will regain the trust of the public.&quot;This early I already told our counterparts that we will not accept or allow insertions and amendments done in the bicam. If ever it will be done here, in open, on the floor on the amendment portion as we deliberate on the budget. So it will be allowed on floor but during the bicam it will not be allowed anymore,&quot; Ejercito elaborated. Senator Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, lamented that senators are being dragged into the issue. &quot;Parang kulang po yung salitang malisyoso, Mr President. Couple of days ago, si Senator Robinhood at si Senator Bong Go naman yung face of the day ngayon si Senator Migz when we are just doing our job,&quot; Villanueva said.&quot;It pains me a lot as a legislator, as a member of this august chamber na pag ginagawa mo yung trabaho mo may isang malisyoso diyan na babatuhin ka ng putik pero pag hindi ho nag-stick yung putik hindi na sasabihin na tama  naman pala yung ginawa mo,&quot; Villanueva said. He mentioned that he has been talking about flood control since 2022. <div> </div><div>&#x27;FOR LATER RELEASE&#x27;</div>Senators Robin Padilla and Christopher Lawrence Go pointed out that projects were held in abeyance.&quot;Sana lang po sa susunod pagka may nagsulat ng ganyan, ituloy-tuloy niyo naman. Kasi nabanggit kami pero hindi nabanggit na FLR &#x27;yun, &#x27;For Later Release,&#x27;&quot; Padilla said.Go also said that Bonoan should focus on proving his innocence. According to Bonoan, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo submitted to him lists of 2025 infrastructure projects for Go and Padilla.&quot;Una sa lahat, kung may ipinasang listahan ang isang Undersecretary niya sa kanya ng mga proyektong galing daw sa opisina ng isang Senador, anong listahan ba ang tinutukoy niya? Dahil sigurado po ako na wala naman tayong ipinasang listahan kay Usec. Bernardo,&quot; Bonoan said. &quot;Kami &#x27;yung mga less privileged dito for the past three years. In fact, &#x27;yung mga 2025, 2024, 2026, hanggang ngayon po hindi nare-release &#x27;yung mga proyekto,&quot; Go pointed out.<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qKBfW3-W720?&amp;pp=0gcJCc0LAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div>

Senators fired back at former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan during the plenary session of the Senate after Bonoan testified about the allocables and leadership funds of Senators in the national budget before the Sandiganbayan.

Senators fired back at former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan during the plenary session of the Senate after Bonoan testified about the allocables and leadership funds of Senators in the national budget before the Sandiganbayan.

Senators fire back at Bonoan’s ‘leadership funds’ allocation claim

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Senators fire back at Bonoan’s ‘leadership funds’ allocation claim

RG Cruz,

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 12, 2026 09:29 PM PHT

|

Updated August 12, 2026 09:58 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

leadership funds

Manuel Bonoan

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