Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday, September 9, linked former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan to what he called a “growing family business” in government flood projects now under investigation in Congress.
In a privilege speech, Lacson cited corporate records showing that Bonoan’s daughter, Fatima Bonoan Dela Cruz, is listed as treasurer of MBB Global Properties Corporation, alongside Macy Monique Maglanque as president and Sunshine Bernardo as corporate secretary. The company, which owns the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Clark, Pampanga, is tied to families with connections to DPWH and local politics.
“MBB stands for Maglanque, Bernardo, and Bonoan,” Lacson said.
“Coincidentally, these are known surnames of today’s flood control saga: Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque… DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, na kamakailan lamang ay nag-early retirement matapos masangkot sa maanomalyang flood control; at siyempre pa, dating DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan,” he added.
Maglanque, former president of Globalcrete Builders, allegedly secured ₱2.195 billion worth of flood control projects in Bulacan from 2018 to 2024. Lacson said Maglanque remained listed as company president in 2024 and even signed contracts despite being required to divest.
“Kayo na po ang mag-connect the dots,” Lacson said.
“Kaya naman pala ang palaging depensa ni dating DPWH secretary Bonoan, isolated case lang daw ang nakita ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na ghost project sa Bulacan. Ayaw na siguro ni Bonoan na maungkat pa sa imbestigasyon ang Globalcrete.”
Bonoan resigned from the DPWH on August 31 amid the ongoing probe. He was replaced by Vince Dizon, who previously headed the Department of Transportation.
Lacson also presented what he described as proof against DPWH Undersecretary Ma. Catalina Cabral, who allegedly offered to include “insertions” in the 2026 national budget. Showing a screenshot of a message from Cabral to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Lacson said: “She was actually lying through her teeth. She should know that I don’t talk without proof.”
The senator further revealed details about the so-called “BGC Boys” — five former DPWH-Bulacan engineers and contractors he accused of squandering nearly ₱950 million in casinos while implicated in anomalous flood projects.
“On top of their multimillion-peso wristwatches, signature clothes and sneakers, and their lavish lifestyles, these five erstwhile DPWH officials of the Bulacan first district engineering office earned a moniker: BGC Boys — not Bonifacio Global City but Bulacan Group of Contractors, as they are known to casino employees,” Lacson said.
Records from 13 casinos in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga allegedly showed massive losses by dismissed district engineer Henry Alcantara, assistant engineers Brice Ericson Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, and contractor Edrick San Diego.
“Base sa mga dokumentong nakalap namin mula sa PAGCOR, malulula tayo sa laki ng halagang naging talo sa casino ng limang ito – ₱950 million in gross losses,” Lacson stressed.
“Considering the glaring violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act by these ‘big-time gamblers,’ we urge the AMLC to immediately initiate an action for the freezing of the bank accounts of these individuals and the subsequent prosecution for violating the law itself,” he furthered.
Hernandez was earlier cited in contempt by the Senate but has appeared before the House probe, where he accused senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva of receiving kickbacks from flood projects. Both senators have denied the allegation, calling it malicious.
