Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who leads a Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee, issued a warning on Friday that he will subpoena Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan after the latter failed to attend 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 remarked at the start of the hearing.

The senator pointed out that Bonoan had previously skipped other Senate inquiries, including the one concerning the construction of the 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 cautioned.

He stressed that Bonoan’s presence is crucial to the investigation, as it not only covers the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela but also examines “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 subpoena him and I will request General Torre to bring him here,” Cayetano added, referring to CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III.

The bridge, which connects Cabagan and Santa Maria in Isabela province, partially collapsed on February 27, injuring six people.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) stated that the bridge was designed to support a maximum of 44 tons, while the truck that crossed it weighed 100 tons.

A week after the collapse, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited the site and pointed out that the bridge had a “design problem.”