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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate issues subpoenas to Bonoan, Co in flood control corruption probe

Senate issues subpoenas to Bonoan, Co in flood control corruption probe

Published Jan 16, 2026 02:41 pm
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has confirmed signing and issuing subpoenas for former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Congressman Zaldy Co, and other personalities allegedly involved in corruption linked to flood control projects.
Former Congressman Zaldy Co and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan (MB file photos)
Former Congressman Zaldy Co and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan (MB file photos)
Sotto said this in a Viber message to reporters.
“Yes,” he said on Thursday, Jan. 15.
The subpoenas have been issued to those identified as being involved in the alleged corruption in flood control projects and require them to appear at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s next hearing on Monday, January 19.
These include former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan; former Congressman Zaldy Co; Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana; former Special Envoy to China Maynard Ngu; and former Department of Education Undersecretary Trygive Olaivar.
The individuals were subpoenaed after failing to respond to the committee’s previous invitations. If they again fail to appear on Monday, they could be cited for contempt, issued a show-cause order, or required to explain why they should not be held in contempt.
Should the senators find the explanation unsatisfactory—or if none is provided—the Senate may order their arrest.
Recently, Lacson said that Bonoan deliberately fed false data to Malacañang regarding ghost flood control projects, possibly to throw off the investigation into the matter. He cited "very reliable information" reaching him showing the data led to incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects nationwide.
Meanwhile, Sotto confirmed that an invitation has also been sent to Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste through House Speaker Faustino Dy. Leviste had earlier made public the so-called “Cabral files,” documents reportedly left by the late former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

Related Tags

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Manuel Bonoan Zaldy Co
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