Bonoan faces arraignment in remaining flood control graft case

MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan appeared Friday before the Sandiganbayan Second Division for the arraignment on his remaining graft case over his alleged involvement in a kickback scheme related to flood control projects.

The Office of the Ombudsman accepted his offer to become a state witness, prompting the anti-graft body to drop the charges against him.

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Earlier, Bonoan was released from hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame after his plunder case before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division was dropped.

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READ: Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan released from PNP custody

His plunder case kept Bonoan behind bars, so Ombudsman prosecutors filed before the Fifth Division a motion to amend the information so he could be removed from the charges. On Tuesday, the division granted this motion.

Only Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and three other former DPWH officials remain as accused in the plunder case.

However, the anti-graft court Second Division denied the prosecutors motion to amend information to discharge Bonoan, this time from the graft charge.

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Bonoan’s graft case stemmed from his alleged conspiracy with Estrada to ensure the inclusion of flood control projects in Bulacan in the 2025 budget where the senator allegedly got a P213.7 million kickback.

For his part, Estrada did not enter a plea during his arraignment, prompting the Second Division to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf. 

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Prosecutors on August 10 filed a motion for reconsideration (MR) on the Second Division’s denial of their motion to amend the information to discharge Bonoan.

This MR is expected to be tackled during the arraignment proceeding. /jpv