MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan has been ordered released by the Sandiganbayan, two days after the anti-graft court removed him as a co-accused in graft and plunder cases tied to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued the release order on Thursday, Sept. 3, following its earlier 2-1 decision to grant the Office of the Ombudsman’s request to discharge Bonoan from the cases involving detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and three former DPWH officials.
The development clears the way for Bonoan to continue cooperating with prosecutors as a potential state witness in other cases arising from the massive flood-control corruption investigation.
Why was Bonoan released?
Bonoan had been under hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame since June because of several health conditions.
After prosecutors sought his discharge as a co-accused, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division ruled that the Ombudsman has discretion to determine which accused may be used as a state witness to strengthen its criminal cases.
The Ombudsman has argued that Bonoan’s cooperation could help investigators uncover how the alleged flood-control kickback system operated.
The agency previously described his cooperation as important to uncovering the “architecture” behind the alleged scheme.
But one justice strongly disagreed
The decision was not unanimous.
Associate Justice Gener Gito, the lone dissenting member of the Fifth Division, questioned the decision to remove Bonoan from the cases.
Gito said prosecutors had not adequately provided the court with details about the immunity arrangement, including what information Bonoan would provide, what his testimony would cover and which cases would use his testimony.
According to the dissent, the court should have been given the terms and conditions of the immunity agreement before determining whether Bonoan should be discharged.
The majority, however, maintained that the Ombudsman has prosecutorial discretion in determining which accused should be used as a state witness.
The case involves alleged P573.75-million kickbacks
Bonoan had been charged alongside Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and three former DPWH personnel in cases involving an alleged scheme to obtain kickbacks from flood-control projects included in the 2025 national budget.
The charges allege that the group amassed approximately P573.75 million in kickbacks through questioned projects.
With Bonoan discharged, Estrada and the three former DPWH officials remain accused in the cases.
Estrada has strongly opposed Bonoan’s removal and said he would pursue all legal remedies available to him.
Bonoan could become a key witness
The former DPWH secretary’s cooperation is particularly significant because the Ombudsman is investigating a much broader alleged flood-control corruption network.
Bonoan has already been used as a prosecution witness in another flood-control-related case involving former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., according to reporting by Inquirer. During that testimony, Bonoan discussed DPWH-related allocations and the so-called “leadership funds” for senators.
The Ombudsman has also said Bonoan’s testimony could assist investigations involving other alleged participants in the wider flood-control controversy, including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
What happens to Bonoan now?
The Sandiganbayan’s latest order means Bonoan is no longer being held in connection with the cases from which he was discharged.
The PNP had previously said it would defer to the Sandiganbayan regarding his release. On Wednesday, doctors at the PNP General Hospital said Bonoan was clinically stable and taking medication, with his hypertension controlled.
The development marks a major turn in the flood-control corruption investigation: a former DPWH secretary who was once among those facing charges is now positioned to potentially provide evidence against other people being investigated.
At the same time, the dissenting opinion highlights an unresolved legal question over the details and scope of the immunity arrangement.
The bigger question now is what Bonoan will reveal — and whether his testimony will lead investigators further up the alleged flood-control corruption chain.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
Leave a Reply