Former DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan testifies in Sandiganbayan that all senators in 2024 received at least PHP 500 million each in “leadership funds” for priority projects billed under the DPWH budget. He says the allocations are meant for senators’ “pet projects” identified as priority spending.
Bonoan delivers the claims while testifying as a prosecution witness in a case involving former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who faces malversation charges. According to one report, Revilla is accused of involvement in a ghost project in Bulacan’s Pandi town valued at PHP 92.8 million in exchange for a 25% kickback, which he denies. Another outlet reports the same core figure—at least PHP 500 million per senator—without focusing on the underlying case details.
Across the coverage, outlets agree on the central point: Bonoan states that every senator had minimum allocations of PHP 500 million for priority projects through DPWH “leadership funds.” The reports vary mainly in how much they connect the testimony to Revilla’s case and the broader allegations being heard in court.
