MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan drew criticism after appearing dismissive about the death of his former subordinate, Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral, who was among those implicated in the alleged ghost flood control projects scandal. 

Asked by BNC how he felt about Cabral’s passing, Bonoan replied: “Well, I’m sorry. Namatay eh.”

Cabral, who served as DPWH undersecretary for planning and public-private partnership, was found dead in December 2025 after reportedly falling from a cliff along Kennon Road in Benguet. Her death came amid intense Senate investigations into anomalous flood control projects, where she was repeatedly mentioned as a key official responsible for consolidating project data.

During Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, Bonoan admitted that he relied heavily on Cabral’s office for information on flood control projects, including the submission of grid coordinates later found to be erroneous. 

“Mr. Chair, of course I relied on the data that was generated by our people in the department, especially the office of the late undersecretary Cathy Cabral,” Bonoan said. These wrong coordinates misled inspectors into visiting incorrect sites, forcing the DPWH to restart validation of thousands of projects.

The controversy deepened when former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo alleged in a sworn affidavit that Bonoan, Cabral, and other officials received kickbacks from flood control projects. 

Bernardo claimed that project values reached at least P5 billion annually from 2023 to 2025, with a “15 percent average commitment” supposedly shared among Bonoan, Cabral, and himself. Bonoan has categorically denied the allegations, insisting he never received kickbacks.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee, also accused Bonoan of misleading Malacañang by submitting inaccurate coordinates for thousands of flood control projects listed on the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website. These discrepancies cast doubt on earlier inspection reports and fueled suspicions of ghost projects worth billions of pesos.

Cabral’s death has complicated the probe, with senators noting that she could have provided crucial testimony. Her passing, coupled with Bonoan’s resignation in January 2026, has left investigators pressing other DPWH officials to explain the anomalies.

The flood control mess remains one of the largest corruption scandals to hit the department in recent years, involving alleged ghost projects, falsified inspection reports, and billions in questionable allocations. The Senate inquiry continues to determine accountability, while the Ombudsman is expected to file cases against implicated officials.

Dismissive Words, Heavy Context

Bonoan’s remark on his former subordinate’s death sounded jarring. Read one way, it was awkward grief under pressure, a clumsy response to a painful loss.

Read another way, the words landed as indifference. This was not an ordinary passing. It came amid allegations of ghost projects worth billions and the loss of a witness who could have answered hard questions.

Tone matters. Public officials carry context when accountability is unresolved. Sympathy can coexist with seriousness. Dismissiveness cannot. The probe must proceed, and leaders must speak with gravity to the stakes. Are careless words a slip, or a window into power?