Former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan has been ordered released by the Sandiganbayan, days after the anti-graft court removed him as a co-accused in cases stemming from the controversial flood-control projects.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued the release order on Thursday, September 3, effectively ending Bonoan’s hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, where he had been held since June because of several health conditions.
The development came shortly after doctors at the PNP hospital said Bonoan was already clinically stable, with his hypertension under control through medication and continued medical supervision.
Court decision clears path for Bonoan’s release
The release order followed the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division’s earlier decision to grant the prosecution’s request to exclude Bonoan from the plunder and graft cases involving alleged kickbacks tied to infrastructure projects.
The Office of the Ombudsman has sought to use Bonoan as a potential state witness in other cases connected to the wider flood-control corruption investigation.
Bonoan had been among those charged in connection with an alleged P573.75-million kickback scheme involving projects included in the 2025 national budget.
The other accused include Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and former DPWH officials Manny Bulusan, Arturo Gonzales Jr. and Denryl Caesar Cortuna.
Bonoan’s health was a major factor in his detention arrangement
Before Thursday’s court order, PNP General Hospital officials said Bonoan remained medically stable.
Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani, chief of the hospital’s Internal Medicine Department, said his blood pressure was controlled and that he continued taking maintenance medication under the supervision of the medical team.
Bonoan was also reportedly able to attend court hearings without major medical complications and was no longer dependent on a wheelchair.
His personal physician previously listed several medical conditions, including Stage 4 chronic renal disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, gouty arthritis, spondylolisthesis and prostate cancer.
But the court decision was not unanimous
While Bonoan was removed from the cases, the decision drew a strong dissent from Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gener Gito.
Gito questioned the basis for removing Bonoan as an accused, arguing that the prosecution had not fully presented details of the proposed immunity arrangement or explained sufficiently how Bonoan would cooperate as a state witness.
He also questioned whether the Ombudsman’s authority to grant immunity could be exercised without sufficient judicial scrutiny.
The Fifth Division ultimately ruled 2-1 in favor of the prosecution’s request, with Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Maryann Corpuz-Mañalac voting to exclude Bonoan.
Bonoan had already appeared as a prosecution witness
The controversy surrounding Bonoan’s status comes as investigators continue to pursue alleged corruption involving flood-control projects.
According to Inquirer, Bonoan had already appeared as a prosecution witness in a separate malversation case involving former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and an alleged ghost flood-control project in Bulacan.
During that testimony, Bonoan discussed the DPWH’s so-called “leadership fund” and said incumbent senators in 2024 had availed themselves of funding for priority projects.
His potential cooperation with authorities could therefore become significant in other investigations connected to the broader flood-control controversy.
PNP says it will follow the court order
Before the release order was issued, the PNP said Bonoan’s discharge would depend on the Sandiganbayan.
PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said the police would defer to whatever order the anti-graft court issued.
With the Sandiganbayan now ordering Bonoan’s release, the legal basis for his continued hospital arrest has changed.
What happens next?
Bonoan’s release does not necessarily end his involvement in the government’s broader flood-control investigations.
Although he has been removed as a co-accused in the specific graft and plunder cases, authorities are reportedly considering his cooperation in other cases.
That makes his next statements—and whatever information he may provide to investigators—potentially significant as prosecutors continue building cases related to alleged irregularities in government infrastructure projects.
The key question now is what information Bonoan may provide as the government continues pursuing the wider flood-control corruption cases.
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Separate developing story: PNP intensifies crackdown on online counterfeit trade
The Philippine National Police is also stepping up its campaign against cyber-enabled illegal activity, including fraudulent online transactions and the growing trade in counterfeit products.
The broader crackdown comes as authorities face an increasingly digital marketplace where fake branded products can be advertised and sold directly to consumers.
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group reported 766 arrests from January through July 2026 for various violations, highlighting the scale of ongoing cybercrime enforcement.
The government has also been increasing coordination between law-enforcement and regulatory agencies over online fraud. In July, the PNP announced stronger coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and Department of Trade and Industry to combat fake QR codes being used to deceive online buyers and sellers.
Meanwhile, consumer advocates have called for stronger action against counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms, warning that some fake products can pose health and safety risks—not merely intellectual-property concerns.
The issue is significant given that the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights reported seizures worth P18.64 billion in counterfeit goods between June 2024 and May 2025, according to figures cited in the recent campaign for tougher online enforcement.
Recent enforcement operations also show that the problem extends beyond individual online sellers. The NBI reported a May 2026 operation that seized approximately P78.8 million worth of counterfeit merchandise across seven locations in Metro Manila.
The emerging enforcement strategy therefore targets not only physical warehouses and distributors but also the digital channels used to market and sell counterfeit goods.
For Filipino consumers, authorities continue to urge caution when purchasing online, particularly when listings involve unusually low prices, questionable sellers, unauthorized payment arrangements or suspicious links and QR codes.
WWC ONE MEDIA MJE
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