Marcos respects Sandigan decision to drop plunder, graft raps vs Bonoan

MANILA, Philippines —  President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. respects the decision of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to drop the plunder and graft charges against former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Wednesday.

Citing separation of powers between the executive and judiciary, Castro said whatever decision that the Sandiganbayan comes up with is not within the authority of the President.

READ: One of 3 justices opposes move to drop Bonoan from plunder case

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“Kung  ano po ang naging dahilan  nila at nakita nila kung ang mga valid reasons kung bakit nila ni-drop ang cases laban kay dating Secretary Manny Bonoan, iyan po ay nasa pag-evaluate at pag-assess po ng nasabing Korte,” said Castro at a briefing.

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(As for the reasons and the valid grounds they found for dropping the cases against former Secretary Manny Bonoan, that is a matter for the said court to evaluate and assess.)

“So iginagalang naman po ng Pangulo at administrasyon kung anuman po ang nagiging desisyon ng lahat ng Korte dito sa Pilipinas,” she added.

(So, the President and the administration respect whatever decisions are reached by the courts here in the Philippines.)

The latest Sandiganbayan action came after the Office of the Ombudsman pursued efforts beginning in July to turn Bonoan into a state witness for other cases stemming from alleged multibillion-peso corruption involving flood control projects.

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Despite this, Castro maintained that the Marcos administration is committed to holding accountable those involved in the flood control mess.

The former Department of Public Works and Highways chief is a co-accused of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who faces a plunder case stemming from alleged “intricate mechanisms involving illegal budgetary insertions and project allocations” within the agency’s infrastructure portfolio for fiscal year 2025 worth P573 million.

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Bonoan let go?

Meanwhile, Castro also addressed Bonoan’s testimony before the Sandiganbayan that Marcos Jr. allegedly asked him to step down from his post amid the flood control scandal.

His statement disputed Marcos’ announcement in September last year that the official voluntarily resigned due to “command responsibility.”

READ: Marcos: Bonoan resigns as DPWH chief over ‘command responsibility’

But for Castro, Bonoan and Marcos’ differing statements do not contradict

“Hindi naman po siya magka-contradict, hindi siya contradicting, dahil kung sinasabi niya po at inaamin niya na siya ay tinanggal ng Pangulo, hindi po siya kokontra sa paniniwalang command responsibility niya kung anuman ang nangyari ng mga maanomalyang flood control projects sa pamumuno niya,” she said.

(It is not contradictory—there is no contradiction—because if he states and admits that he was removed by the President, that does not conflict with the principle of command responsibility regarding whatever transpired with the anomalous flood-control projects under his leadership.)

“So, nagkausap sila, at mas maramdaman siguro ni Secretary Manny Bonoan, at that time na ang tiwala ng Pangulo ay nawala dahil nga command responsibility niya ito, so kailangan niya po siyang mag-resign at umalis sa posisyon,” the Palace official said.

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(So, they spoke, and Secretary Manny Bonoan likely sensed at the time that he had lost the President’s trust—given the principle of command responsibility—so he needed to resign and step down from his position.) /gsg