MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday questioned why former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan received handwritten memos from civilians or non-DPWH personnel directing which infrastructure projects to endorse.

In an interview on DZBB radio, Lacson said the discovery was “baffling,” noting that the memos, some written on Post-It notes, bypassed official communication channels of the department.

“I am baffled by the documents I saw, where Bonoan received handwritten memos that turned out to be from civilians or non-organic DPWH personnel. How did these memos, which were scribbled on Post-It notes, get to Bonoan?” Lacson said in Filipino. “That’s the hard part. Such communications didn’t go through the official channels of the department. Why is the secretary dealing with them directly?”

The revelation is the latest in a series of alleged irregularities uncovered by Lacson as the Senate investigates corruption behind anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects.

Earlier, Lacson flagged what he described as a “leadership fund” within the DPWH, which Bonoan reportedly said consolidates lawmakers’ proposed projects under the National Expenditure Program (NEP). Lacson said this practice allows legislators to “tinker” with the budget even before congressional authorization.

He reminded the agency of the four stages of the budgeting process — preparation, authorization, execution, and accountability — stressing that the DPWH’s actions must remain within these legal bounds.

Lacson also lamented reports that the department had been altering lawmakers’ project requests, such as replacing a ₱1.5-billion proposal for multipurpose buildings with ₱600 million worth of flood control projects, suggesting that kickbacks were being prioritized over actual community needs.

“From the testimonies of DPWH personnel, it appears public funds have become nothing more but a toy for corrupt DPWH officials,” he said.

He added that project insertions often distort local development plans, turning them into “contractor-driven” initiatives where favored firms secure deals in exchange for commissions — a system that leads to substandard or even ghost projects.

Lacson said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s ongoing inquiry into flood control projects may expand to other questionable infrastructure projects, such as farm-to-market roads, due to the extent of corruption that has persisted in the department.

“Over time, the DPWH allowed such abuses because they went undetected or unpunished. In the course of time, this became a lucrative practice,” he said.

New witness, Guteza subpoena

Lacson also said that, if reelected as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, he will resume the inquiry on November 14, with at least one “very important witness” invited to testify.

He confirmed that the committee will subpoena retired T/Sgt. Orly Guteza, whose testimony before the Senate previously accused former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of receiving suitcases of cash.

“We will send Guteza a subpoena through the office of Sen. Marcoleta and/or the residence or office of Defensor. They had a hand in presenting Marcoleta, so we hope they know how to contact Guteza,” Lacson said in an interview on One News.

CCTV footage showed Guteza arriving at the Senate on Sept. 25 and staying briefly at the office of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta before attending the Blue Ribbon hearing.

Lacson confirmed receiving information that the Manila Regional Trial Court found the notarized affidavit Guteza submitted to the Senate falsified, as lawyer Petty Rose Espera’s signature had been forged. The court has recommended filing falsification charges against Guteza and others responsible.

He said while Guteza’s verbal statements before the Senate remain valid, the finding could affect his credibility.

The senator added that the committee would also summon the contractor involved in constructing Romualdez’s alleged residence and request the project logbook to verify Guteza’s claims of delivering cash between December 2024 and August 2025.

Lacson noted that preliminary checks on Guteza’s background showed he had a “good service record” in the Marines but that there was still no corroborative evidence to prove he served as security detail for Co.