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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Delicadeza naman dyan': Albee Benitez tells DPWH Chief Bonoan to take leave of absence

'Delicadeza naman dyan': Albee Benitez tells DPWH Chief Bonoan to take leave of absence

Published Aug 1, 2025 02:22 pm

At A Glance

  • Bacolod lone district Rep. Albee Benitez has called on Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan to take a leave of absence amid the controversies the agency is facing.
Bacolod lone district Rep. Albee Benitez (Facebook)
Bacolod lone district Rep. Albee Benitez (Facebook)


Bacolod lone district Rep. Albee Benitez has called on Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan to take a leave of absence amid the controversies the agency is facing.
Benitez, a returning solon in the 20th Congress, made this appeal in a Facebook post Friday afternoon, Aug. 1.
"Out of delicadeza, and to help preserve the integrity of any inquiry, I respectfully urge the DPWH Secretary to take a leave of absence while the investigation is ongoing," he wrote.
"This simple act of good faith will go a long way toward restoring public trust and ensuring that the process is impartial and credible," underscored the Visayas congressman.
The DPWH in currently under the microscope following the suppsoed failure of various flood control projects in the country. This was the natural conclusion following the floods that were left by the recent spate of typhoons coupled with the effects of "Habagat".
President Marcos even brought it up in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28, which further placed the spotlight on the DPWH.
In the same Facebook post, Benitez also disapproved of the DPWH's intention to audit itself as fa as the flood control projects were concerned.
"When there are questions about a company’s finances, you don’t ask the accountant to audit himself. You bring in someone independent to find the truth," he said.
"The same principle should apply in government. The implementor should not be the evaluator," Benitez further wrote.
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