The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has dropped former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan from the plunder and graft cases linked to the flood control scandal, potentially clearing the way for prosecutors to use him as a state witness in the broader corruption investigation involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The prosecution confirmed Sept. 1 that the anti-graft court granted its motion to remove Bonoan from the list of accused, allowing the Office of the Ombudsman to consider the former Department of Public Works and Highways chief as a cooperating witness as investigators trace officials, transactions and alleged kickback arrangements tied to questionable flood control projects.
Bonoan had faced one non-bailable count of plunder and two counts of graft over alleged kickbacks involving about ₱573 million worth of flood control projects. He was charged alongside Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH officials Manny Bulusan, Arturo Gonzales Jr. and Denryl Caesar Cortuna.
The Ombudsman sought Bonoan’s exclusion from the cases after securing his cooperation, with officials previously indicating that information from the former DPWH secretary could also be relevant to the continuing case buildup involving Romualdez and the broader flood control controversy.
With Bonoan removed from the Fifth Division cases, prosecutors can now use his testimony as they pursue the remaining accused and investigate the broader network behind the alleged scheme.
Bonoan, however, has not been completely cleared of criminal liability and still faces a separate graft charge before the Sandiganbayan Second Division, where he has already posted bail.
