Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan was receiving handwritten “memos” from civilians or non-organic DPWH personnel on which projects to endorse when he headed the department. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed this on Tuesday, October 28, as the Senate continues to look into the anomalies in government flood control and other infrastructure projects. 

“I am baffled by the documents I saw, where Bonoan received handwritten memos that turned out to be from civilians or non-organic DPWH personnel. How did these memos, which were scribbled on Post-It notes, get to Bonoan?" Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

"That's the hard part. Such communications didn't go through the official channels of the department. Why is the secretary dealing with them directly?" he added.

Lacson, who is poised to return as the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in November, said this is the latest in a series of irregularities he uncovered in the DPWH. 

Expanding Blue Ribbon Probe

The senator warned that the Blue Ribbon probe into flood control projects could expand to other anomalous infrastructure projects, including farm-to-market roads, after seeing how the DPWH, over time, allowed such corruption.

"Over time, the DPWH allowed such abuses because they went undetected or unpunished. In the course of time, this became a lucrative practice," he said.

Moreover, Lacson said that should he be elected again as chairman of the blue ribbon panel, it will hold its next hearing on November 14, he will invite at least “one very important witness” to the hearing.

Lacson said that should he be elected anew as chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, it will hold its next hearing on Nov. 14, with at least one "very important witness" invited to the hearing.

Lacson said the witness may link more names to the mess. When asked if these big names include government officials, he said they may include government officials and civilians.

But the panel is also keen on issuing a subpoena for retired T/Sgt. Orly Guteza for its Nov. 14 hearing, and course this through the office of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former Rep. Michael Defensor.

“We will send Guteza a subpoena through the office of Sen. Marcoleta and/or the residence or office of Defensor. They had a hand in presenting Marcoleta, so we hope they know how to contact Guteza,” Lacson said in an interview on One News late Monday.

According to Lason, a review of the Senate’s CCTV footage showed that Guteza arrived at the Senate at 8:27 a.m. of Sept. 25 and stayed at the office of Marcoleta for some 30 minutes before going down to the gallery of the session hall where the hearing was being held.

Guteza had claimed that he delivered suitcases of cash to the homes of ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. Romualdez had denied the allegation. 

Also, Lacson said he was informed that the Executive Judge of the Manila Regional Trial Court found that the signature in Guteza’s notarized affidavit was inconsistent with that of Espera. 

The judge has recommended that Guteza, and those responsible for presenting his affidavit, undergo preliminary investigation for falsification. 

Lacson said that while Guteza’s statement before the Blue Ribbon Committee remains valid, the development may affect his credibility.

In the event he is reelected as panel chairman, he will instruct the committee to subpoena the contractor building of Romualdez’s alleged residence, along with the project logbook to verify Guteza’s claim of delivering cash to Romualdez between December 2024 and August 2025.

Lacson said that while a record and background check on Guteza showed he had a good service record in the Marines, there is still no corroborative evidence that would prove his claim that he served as a security detail of former congressman Elizaldy Co.