Cayetano on Isabela bridge collapse: ‘Heads have to roll’
IT COMES CRASHING DOWN The third span of this 990-meter Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Cabagan, Isabela, comes crashing down on Thursday night, along with a dump truck, whose content of quarried stones have been spilled all over the damaged section of the span. Four other vehicles also crossing the newly completed bridge at that time were damaged, injuring six people. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said on Friday that “heads have to roll” following the recent collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela province, adding that it could start with Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
In an ambush interview, Cayetano said Bonoan was not taking the matter seriously.
“So definitely, we’ll review over the weekend, we’ll work and look at all these documents. There is definitely legislation that will come out here but it looks like if some heads have to roll, it has to start with the secretary of DPWH because he is not taking this seriously,” the senator said.
During the hearing of the subcommittee of the Senate blue ribbon panel, Cayetano also expressed his dismay to the DPWH over the supposedly “disappointing actions” to address the bridge collapse.
“I’m very disappointed [at] how the DPWH is taking this. Parang hindi (It seems not) wholehearted,” he said.
READ: Alan Cayetano blasts DPWH execs: Seems you’re not serious about probe
Bonoan skipped the public hearing, leading Cayetano to threaten the issuance of a subpoena against him.
According to the senator, the DPWH chief’s presence in the hearing is essential because the probe does not solely focus on the collapsed Isabela bridge, but also seeks to address “how the DPWH deals with errant contractors and errant members [of the DPWH] if any of DPWH.”
On February 27, the Cabagan-Sta Maria Bridge collapsed when a dump truck carrying quarried stones exceeding the 45-ton weight limit attempted to cross.
At least six people were injured and four vehicles were damaged in the incident.
The bridge had been completed just weeks earlier on February 1, 2025 at P1.22 billion.
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