Bonoan remains accused in graft case

Former Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control controversy on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Senate PRIB / Released

MANILA, Philippines — Former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan will remain as Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s co-accused in a graft case linked to the flood control controversy.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division has affirmed its ruling denying prosecutors’ bid to drop Bonoan as a defendant.

Bonoan is accused of conspiring with Estrada to ensure that flood control projects in Bulacan were included in the 2025 national budget.

Estrada allegedly received P213.7 million in kickbacks.

In a separate plunder case involving Estrada, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division had dropped Bonoan as co-accused and released him from detention.

Bonoan is out on bail.

The ombudsman earlier asked the courts to drop the charges against Bonoan so he could be considered a state witness.

During pre-trial, Estrada’s lawyers said they will mark as evidence former Bulacan district engineer Brice Hernandez’s affidavit, which stated that Estrada lacked participation in the alleged kickback scheme.

Brice pleads not guilty

Hernandez and six others have pleaded not guilty to graft charges involving an alleged P77-million ghost flood control project in Balagtas, Bulacan.

Before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, Hernandez and former public works officials Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domaig, Niño Morales, Juanito Mendoza, Floralyn Simbulan and Christina Pineda entered their not-guilty pleas.

Three others were not arraigned since they are still at large, namely former lawmaker and fugitive Zaldy Co and his staff members John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay.

The P77-million flood control project was declared 100 percent complete by May 2025 even though it only started in February 2025.

The structure did not exist, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Rep. Rivera suspended

Tarlac Rep. Noel Rivera has been suspended for 90 days over alleged conflict of interest in government infrastructure projects.

Facing two graft cases, Rivera is accused of maintaining financial interests in nine infrastructure projects awarded to Tarlac 3-G Construction and Development Corp. during his term as lawmaker from 2022 to 2025.

Rivera is one of the alleged “cong-tractors” involved in the flood control scam.

Rivera allegedly owned a controlling stake in the firm, which won a P94.86-million contract in 2023 for a road project in San Narcisco, Zambales.