Senate Blue Ribbon warns subpoena will be issued to DPWH chief for skipping probe on collapsed Isabela bridge

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chairperson of a Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee, on Friday warned that he will subpoena Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan after the latter skipped the panel’s investigation into the collapsed bridge in Isabela.

“I will not get mad at you for those who are not here but I will request one of you to text the secretary because hindi nag-a-attend ng hearing e,” Cayetano said at the early part of the hearing.

The senator recalled that Bonoan skipped previous investigations in the Senate, including the inquiry on the currently-constructed New Senate Building.

“Sa new senate building, hindi nag-attend. Ito napakalaking eskandalo ito na bridge, hindi nag-attend. And the reason I request you text him because I will subpoena him if he doesn’t [voluntarily] come here,” Cayetano warned.

He emphasized that Bonoan’s presence is necessary in the Senate Blue Ribbon investigation because the probe is not only focused on the collapsed Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela, but also on “how the DPWH deals with errant contractors [or] errant members if any of DPWH.”

“Hindi lang itong bridge ang pinaguusapan natin dito. So he has to be here di ba. If he doesnt, I will subpone him and I will request General Torre to bring him here,” Cayetano quipped, referring to CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III.

On February 27, a portion of the bridge that connects the town of Cabagan to Santa Maria in Isabela province collapsed, leaving six persons injured.

The DPWH said the bridge can only accommodate up to 44 tons, which is far from the weight of the truck, which was 100 tons.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited the collapsed bridge a week after the incident and noted that it had a “design problem.”

The engineer behind the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge refuted this, asserting that the structure adhered to the Bridge Code of the Philippines. — BAP, GMA Integrated News