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Advocates Philippines
Sandiganbayan Weighs Bid to Make Bonoan State Witness
PHOTO COURTESY FROM PNA
The Sandiganbayan's Second Division has submitted for resolution the Office of the Ombudsman's motion to discharge former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan from a graft case and allow him to become a state witness in the government's multibillion-peso flood control corruption investigation.
Bonoan appeared before the anti-graft court on Monday for the hearing on the prosecution's motion. He arrived at the Sandiganbayan in a wheelchair and briefly gave reporters a thumbs-up when asked how he was doing.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the motion in June, arguing that Bonoan's testimony is essential in establishing how the alleged flood control kickback scheme was carried out. Prosecutors believe his cooperation could strengthen the government's case against the remaining accused and help uncover the full extent of the alleged corruption.
Bonoan is among those charged over the alleged irregularities involving a P573-million flood control project in Bulacan. He and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada are also facing separate non-bailable plunder charges arising from the same investigation.
During the hearing, Estrada's legal team opposed the Ombudsman's motion, arguing that allowing Bonoan to become a state witness contradicts the prosecution's earlier allegation that the two conspired in the alleged graft scheme. The defense maintained that removing Bonoan as an accused would be inconsistent with the prosecution's original theory of the case.
Under the Rules of Court, an accused may be discharged and admitted as a state witness if the court finds that the person's testimony is absolutely necessary for the prosecution, can be substantially corroborated, and that there is no other direct evidence available to establish the alleged offense.
The Sandiganbayan did not immediately rule on the motion and instead submitted the matter for resolution. Its decision will determine whether Bonoan will remain one of the accused in the graft case or be allowed to testify for the prosecution as a state witness.
The motion forms part of the Ombudsman's broader investigation into the alleged multibillion-peso flood control anomaly, which has resulted in criminal charges against several current and former government officials and private individuals accused of participating in the alleged scheme.
Bonoan appeared before the anti-graft court on Monday for the hearing on the prosecution's motion. He arrived at the Sandiganbayan in a wheelchair and briefly gave reporters a thumbs-up when asked how he was doing.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the motion in June, arguing that Bonoan's testimony is essential in establishing how the alleged flood control kickback scheme was carried out. Prosecutors believe his cooperation could strengthen the government's case against the remaining accused and help uncover the full extent of the alleged corruption.
Bonoan is among those charged over the alleged irregularities involving a P573-million flood control project in Bulacan. He and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada are also facing separate non-bailable plunder charges arising from the same investigation.
During the hearing, Estrada's legal team opposed the Ombudsman's motion, arguing that allowing Bonoan to become a state witness contradicts the prosecution's earlier allegation that the two conspired in the alleged graft scheme. The defense maintained that removing Bonoan as an accused would be inconsistent with the prosecution's original theory of the case.
Under the Rules of Court, an accused may be discharged and admitted as a state witness if the court finds that the person's testimony is absolutely necessary for the prosecution, can be substantially corroborated, and that there is no other direct evidence available to establish the alleged offense.
The Sandiganbayan did not immediately rule on the motion and instead submitted the matter for resolution. Its decision will determine whether Bonoan will remain one of the accused in the graft case or be allowed to testify for the prosecution as a state witness.
The motion forms part of the Ombudsman's broader investigation into the alleged multibillion-peso flood control anomaly, which has resulted in criminal charges against several current and former government officials and private individuals accused of participating in the alleged scheme.
Jul 14, 2026
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