Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday confirmed that former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan gave the wrong coordinates to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a press briefing, Remulla shared that they had information that some suspects deliberately made the wrong coordinates.
“Iyong 421 ghost projects is much less, hindi siya 421… Noong tinitingnan namin iyong 421 ghost [projects], marami talagang improbable kaya alam namin nanggaling din sa first district [of] Bulacan iyong binago para iyan ang mangyari,” he said.
He added that it was done by Bonoan or any of the officials from the said Bulacan district.
“May nagmali talaga ng grid coordinates para hindi siya ma-geotag ng tama,” said Remulla.
Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday said it is still verifying claims by Senator Panfilo Lacson that former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan allegedly submitted inaccurate data on flood control projects to confuse government inspections.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters that the administration cannot yet confirm the senator’s allegations.
“We are still verifying what Senator Lacson said, so we cannot provide details at this time,” she said.
Castro said the president supports investigations into any officials involved in questionable projects.
“If they were involved, they must be investigated,” she stated.
When asked about Bonoan, who reportedly promised to return to the Philippines last December but remains abroad, Castro said only that he needs to return to the country and could not comment on his personal commitments.
She emphasized that former officials, even if outside the country, remain subject to Philippine law and could face charges if evidence warrants.
Regarding reports of “ghost” or unfinished flood control projects, Castro said the president has personally confirmed some anomalies.
“There were cases where the President discovered ghost projects and anomalous flood control projects that have been verified. But if we speak generally about other claims, we still need to verify them,” she said.
