MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday (Sept 1) said Manuel Bonoan (pic) resigned as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) due to “command responsibility.”
In an ambush interview in Pasay City, Marcos was asked what prompted him to accept Bonoan’s resignation and appoint Vince Dizon as the new DPWH chief.
“The reason with—I think it was Sec. Bonoan who said that basically, he took responsibility because all of these things happened, all of these problems happened under his watch. So under the principle of command responsibility, he felt that he should leave his post,” he explained.
According to Marcos, Dizon has done “a very good job” at the Department of Transportation (DOTr), where he had already set the stage for the projects that needed to be implemented.
“So he can now leave and go to public works, as he is also familiar with the workings of the Department of Public Works and Highways,” Marcos said.
On Monday morning, Dizon took his oath before Marcos as the new DPWH chief, following Bonoan’s resignation, which took effect on September 1 and was announced on Sunday.
Also taking his oath before Marcos was Transportation Undersecretary for Administration, Finance, and Procurement Atty. Giovanni Lopez, who will lead the DOTr—following Dizon’s transfer to the DPWH—as acting secretary of the agency.
Marcos also said the government is preparing an executive order to establish an independent commission to investigate alleged anomalies in flood-prevention projects and other operations within the DPWH.
“The independent commission will serve as the investigative arm. Any information received will be forwarded to them for investigation, after which they will make recommendations on how to proceed,” he explained.
The commission will advise the Executive Department on filing charges against individuals involved in corrupt practices in flood-control projects before the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice.
“We need forensic investigators, lawyers, justices and prosecutors to review the evidence and information we have. They will consolidate this and make the appropriate recommendation to either the DOJ or the Ombudsman, depending on who is found liable for these nefarious activities,” Marcos said. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
