Bonoan released; Romualdez questions court move

MANILA, Philippines — Three months after he surrendered over plunder and graft charges, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan was released from detention yesterday morning.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Thursday ordered Bonoan’s release after he was excluded as an accused in the plunder and graft cases of over P573 million worth of alleged kickbacks from flood control projects.

The camp of former speaker Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has questioned Bonoan’s release.

Romualdez’s legal counsel and spokesman Ade Fajardo said the development was “alarming, surprising and disturbing,” especially now that Bonoan has been freed and could now become a witness in other flood-control related charges.

Fajardo said neither Bonoan nor any DPWH engineer or official had linked Romualdez to any flood control irregularity before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, Independent Commission for Infrastructure and even the ombudsman’s special panel of investigators.

“This means they cannot identify any specific DPWH project where Congressman Romualdez participated or allegedly exerted influence to sway the outcome in favor of a particular contractor. There is no such allegation. So, it is surprising that secretary Bonoan all of a sudden is now available as a potential witness,” he said.

“And then suddenly, (Bonoan) is free and granted immunity practically because he is no longer an accused,” Fajardo added.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had said his office wanted Bonoan to testify in the corruption-related cases being eyed against Romualdez.

The camp of Romualdez has alleged that Remulla is forcing Bonoan to produce evidence against the lawmaker in the flood control scandal.

Fajardo said there was no longer any “credible evidence” against Romualdez following the retraction by five of the so-called “Maleta Boys” as well as witness Orly Guteza, who claimed they delivered cash-filled suitcases to the residences of the Leyte lawmaker.

These recantations, he pointed out, are supported by assertions from 25 other witnesses belying the claims of the original 18 Maleta Boys.

No escort

The 81-year-old Bonoan and members of his family left the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) at Camp Crame in Quezon City, where he was under hospital arrest, at around 10:35 a.m.

Bonoan did not speak to reporters who waited for him outside the hospital.

Unlike in the past when Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) agents would escort him to the Sandiganbayan for a hearing on his cases, no police officer accompanied him when he left the PNPGH.

However, he had to stay overnight at the PNPGH as the CIDG first verified if he had outstanding warrants from the anti-graft court’s other divisions.

“Our police units must strictly comply with lawful court orders. At the same time, they must exercise due diligence to verify any other legal impediment before releasing a person from police custody,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.

After confirming Bonoan has no other pending warrants, the CIDG processed his release in coordination with the PNP Health Service.

Col. John Guiagui, CIDG National Capital Region chief, said Bonoan was in high spirits when he received information of his release.

After doctors checked on Bonoan’s condition and found him fit to travel, he left the hospital.

The former Cabinet official is currently on temporary freedom while he still faces a bailable graft case before the anti-graft court’s Second Division.

The Second Division has ruled to retain Bonoan as an accused in the case, denying the motion of the prosecution.