Ex-DPWH exec implicates Bonoan, Cabral in infra scam

Former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo implicated former Secretary Manuel Bonoan and ex-undersecretary Cathy Cabral in an alleged massive infrastructure scam during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

Bernardo testified that Cabral had significant influence over the DPWH's National Expenditure Program (NEP), dictating project allocations and communicating with legislators.

He further claimed that Cabral would meet with legislators to inform them of their budget allocations and solicit project titles for inclusion in the DPWH budget.

In 2022, Bonoan allegedly instructed Bernardo to submit a list of projects worth P450 million for the NEP 2023, which Cabral then allegedly facilitated into the budget.

Bernardo also named Senators Grace Poe, Mark Villar, and Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara as lawmakers who allegedly received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.

He claimed a staff member of Poe inquired about accommodating Senator Poe in the 2025 NEP, after which Bonoan allegedly allocated P500 million in infrastructure projects to Poe, facilitated by Cabral.

Bernardo stated that a contractor, Mrs. Patron, collected a 20 percent commitment for Senator Poe from one of Bernardo's aides at Diamond Hotel.