The man who had kept denying his involvement in the flood control scandal—former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel ‘Manny’ Bonoan—
currently faces a worsening health condition as he battles with severe hypertension.
Now dealing with nonbailable plunder and graft charges, Bonoan’s legal team successfully secured a hospital arrest due to his critical situation, allowing him to be detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital in Camp Crame.
According to reports, the 80-year-old former Cabinet official is being treated for a complex list of serious ailments that include Stage IV chronic kidney disease, severe coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, Type 2 diabetes and recurring high blood pressure.
Bonoan’s health condition worsened shortly after he surrendered to the authorities following the filing of plunder charges against him before the Sandiganbayan and the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. Attending positions noted that his deteriorating health is resulting from his persistently elevated blood pressure (which previously spiked to 192/100) and heart abnormalities.
After his surrender, he had to be transferred to the The Medical City to undergo intensive cardiac tests such as an angiogram.
Considering his frail condition, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division partially granted his motion for hospital arrest, officially directing his confinement under police custody.
Bonoan has yet to attend court proceedings at the anti-graft tribunal on the plunder raps filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.