Is Bonoan off the hook after resignation? Terry Ridon answers
At A Glance
- Manuel Bonoan may not be the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief anymore, but he will still have a lot of explaining to do before the House Infrastructure Committee (Infra Comm).
Former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan (PPAB)
Manuel Bonoan may not be the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief anymore, but he will still have a lot of explaining to do before the House Infrastructure Committee (Infra Comm.)
Infra comm co-chairman, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon confirmed to House reporters Sunday, Aug. 31 that Bonoan, as a private citizen, was still expected to attend the joint panel inquiry.
"Former secretary Bonoan will still be invited to the Infra Comm hearing, and an invitation will be given to incoming DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon. We thank Secretary Bonoan for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors," Ridon said in a statement.
News broke out about Bonoan's resignation and Dizon's subsequent appointment as his replacement on Sunday afternoon.
The changing of the guard at the DPWH took place even as it was undergoing intense scrutiny over alleged anomalous and "ghost" flood control projects.
For Ridon, it hardly changes anything in terms of the House planned action.
"The House Infrastructure Committee will nonetheless continue with its initial hearing on Tuesday (Sept. 2), focusing on the President’s site inspections of ghost and substandard projects in Bulacan, and undercapitalized firms cornering billions of pesos in flood control contracts," he said.
The infra comm is composed of three separate panels: the House Committees on Public Accounts, on Good Government and Public Accountability, and on Public Works and Highways.
These panels are chaired by Ridon, Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, and Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Romeo Momo Sr., respectively.