Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the removal of former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan as among the accused in the massive flood control scam is a disservice to the call for accountability and justice, and reflects the persistence of corruption impunity and bureaucrat capitalism under the government of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
As head of the DPWH, Bonoan played a key role in facilitating pork barrel projects involving the Palace and Congress members. His resignation in 2025, the ICI investigation regarding his culpability in the kickback scandal, and the Ombudsman’s filing of graft and plunder charges against him were presented to the public as proof that Marcos was seriously pursuing accountability. This narrative has since then been exposed as a malicious ploy to mislead the public, distract public attention, and douse cold water on the widespread anti-corruption protests.
The predetermined removal of Bonoan in the list of accused follows the shameful maneuver of the Marcos government over the past year to shield the president, his closest relatives and Palace subordinates, and favored cronies and contractors from being held accountable for the systematic theft of public funds.
It further exposes the bogus anti-corruption drive of Marcos who has absurdly called himself as whistleblower while using the vast powers of his office to divert investigations and turn the pursuit of accountability into a closed-door negotiation among thieves.
This infuriating update in Bonoan’s case will stir stronger discontent as communities in Luzon continue to reel from the recent flooding disaster.
Bayan calls on the people to flood the streets with protests on September 21 to denounce corruption impunity and the sinister conspiracy to whitewash the crimes of Palace officials. The failure to punish corrupt officials is the reason why flooding disasters continue to devastate our communities. Bayan enjoins the people in flooded communities and all concerned citizens to organize anti-corruption protests, demand accountability against the Marcos government, and reiterate the clamor for the abolition of the pork barrel and bankrupt political system.
Lahat ng sangkot dapat managot, Marcos singilin, panagutin!
Ikulong ang mga kurakot! Ibasura ang pork barrel!
Burukrata kapitalismo, ibagsak!