Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Former Public Works Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan has asked the Sandiganbayan to formally end his detention after he was removed as an accused in the graft and plunder case tied to an alleged Php 573.75-million kickback scheme.
Bonoan’s lawyer, Steffanie Ong, raised the request before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division on Thursday during the arraignment of Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who remains among those charged in the case.
Associate Justice Zaldy Trespesses, chairperson of the division, acknowledged the motion and indicated that a corresponding order would be issued in light of Bonoan’s exclusion.
The development came two days after the court approved prosecutors’ request to remove the former DPWH chief from the case. The Office of the Ombudsman is seeking to use Bonoan as a state witness in other cases connected to the wider flood control corruption controversy.
Bonoan has been under government custody at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame since June because of several health conditions.
His removal from the case leaves Estrada and three former DPWH district officials, Manny Bulusan, Arturo Gonzales Jr. and Denryl Caesar Cortuna, facing the graft and plunder charges.
Prosecutors accuse the remaining defendants of involvement in a scheme that allegedly generated Php 573.75 million in kickbacks from infrastructure and flood control projects included in the 2025 national budget.
The projects covered by the allegations were located in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Occidental Mindoro. The charges remain allegations and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Estrada was arraigned Thursday but did not enter a plea himself, leading the Sandiganbayan to record a not guilty plea on his behalf. Bulusan, Gonzales and Cortuna had earlier pleaded not guilty.
Bonoan’s release now hinges on the issuance of the court order formally implementing his exclusion from the case and ending his custody under the proceedings.