MALACAÑANG on Monday denied the claim of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan that the “leadership fund” was a program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In his Sandiganbayan affidavit, Bonoan claimed that the said fund was created to accommodate priority projects after President Marcos became “alarmed” over massive congressional budget cuts and insertions during the 2023 budget process.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro disclosed that she directly consulted Marcos regarding the allocation, confirming that he has no idea about the fund.
“We spoke with the president. He said that there was really no discussion about this,” Castro said in Filipino.
She explained that during regular project reporting, Marcos evaluates infrastructure proposals based strictly on public utility and regional necessity.
“Because when he talks to Secretary Manny Bonoan, he looks for projects, and the projects should be based on the needs of the area of the town,” Castro said.
“The funds are allocated to the project, not to the individual. That is likely why he mentioned that the president desires equitable distribution — because that is the president’s directive,” the Palace press officer added.
She also said the economic team denied Bonoan’s statement, saying she verified with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that no line item or fund allocation under the name “leadership fund” exists within the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“If there were any discussions among themselves here at the DPWH, this was never a program of the president,” she said.
When asked whether Marcos felt bypassed or misled by subordinates within the Public Works Department, Castro noted that Marcos took immediate action by ordering a comprehensive investigation as soon as irregularities surfaced.
“What did the president do when he learned about the anomaly at the DPWH? Since Secretary Manny Bonoan’s report was incorrect, the president immediately ordered an investigation,” Castro said, emphasizing that the administration will continue to hold all responsible parties accountable.
Asked whether the former DPWH secretary deserves to be a state witness, Castro said the executive branch does not interfere with prosecutorial or judicial decisions.
“That matter is not being discussed. So, it depends on the court, the prosecution, the Ombudsman, and the state prosecutors; however, there is no discussion regarding the issue of whether Secretary Manny Bonoan needs to become a state witness,” Castro said.
