Rowegie Abanto

Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan attends the House Committee on Public Accounts, Public Works, and Good Government inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of various government flood control projects at the House of Representatives on September 2, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17883351827061788335181394.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan attends the House Committee on Public Accounts, Public Works, and Good Government inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of various government flood control projects at the House of Representatives on September 2, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan attends the House Committee on Public Accounts, Public Works, and Good Government inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of various government flood control projects at the House of Representatives on September 2, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Malacanang said Wednesday that it respects the decision of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granting the prosecution&#x27;s bid to discharge former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a co-accused of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in plunder and graft cases over the alleged flood control kickback scheme.</div><p>“Ang dapat, ang lagi nating isipin na  ang binitawang salita ng Pangulo ay dapat na managot ang lahat ng managot, kaalyado man, kakulay, kamag-anak, iyon po ang dapat na hindi natin kalimutan,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in press briefing Wednesday, September 2. </p><p>“Kung ano po ang naging desisyon dito ng Sandiganbayan, iyan po ay hindi na po saklaw ng kapangyarihan ng ating Pangulo,” she added.</p><p>Castro cited the separation of powers, noting that it is within the Sandiganbayan’s discretion to drop the cases against the former secretary whether it found &quot;valid reasons&quot; based on its evaluation.</p><p>“So iginagalang naman po ng Pangulo at administrasyon kung anuman po ang nagiging desisyon ng lahat ng Korte dito sa Pilipinas,” Castro stated.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/2/bonoan-clinically-stable-remains-at-pnp-general-hospital-1142">Sandiganbayan says no release order yet for Bonoan</a></div><p>The Palace official also respects the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to request Bonoan to be discharged from the cases.</p><p>“Ayoko pong pangunahan ang Ombudsman, pero mayroon sila sigurong nakita na mas kakailanganin nilang maging witness ang isang secretary o dating Secretary Manny Bonoan. But still, wala pong anumang kinalaman o anumang impormasyon kung bakit ito ang naging desisyon ng Ombudsman at ng Sandiganbayan,” she noted.</p><div> </div><div><strong>’NOT CONTRADICTING’</strong></div><p>Malacanang also sees nothing wrong with Bonoan’s testimony before the court that he was asked to submit a courtesy resignation last year after a message from Marcos Jr. was relayed to him amid the flood control scandal.</p><p>In September 2025 shortly after Bonoan’s resignation, Marcos Jr. said the former secretary “felt he should leave” out of command responsibility.</p><p>“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. </p><p>“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,” Castro added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OMBUDSMAN’S ALLEGED ’FIXATION’ ON ROMUALDEZ</strong></div><p>Castro also recognized the right of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to express opinion after his camp alleged that the Office of the Ombudsman seems to have ‘prejudged’ him as the mastermind in the flood control fiasco while the investigation is still ongoing.</p><p>“Kung anuman po iyong naging statement ng kampo po ni dating Speaker Martin Romualdez, iyan po ay karapatan nila. At kung iyan ang kanilang nararamdaman ay hindi po natin mapipigilan, dahil kumbaga may dalawa talagang opposing parties dito, isang nagdedemanda at isang inaakusahan na dapat naman din ipagtanggol ang sarili,” Castro said.</p><p>“Kung malakas naman din po ang ebidensiya ng sinumang respondents ay kakayanin naman nila. Kung iniisip nila na sila’y tinututukan lamang at kaya naman nilang ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili, nasa kanila na po iyan,” she added.</p><p>The Palace official reiterated that Marcos Jr. believes in due process and evidence-based investigation.</p><p>“Tayo naman po ay naniniwala, ang Pangulo ay naniniwala sa due process, naniniwala sa mga bawat ebidensiyang ilalahad at ipapakita, so doon na lang po ang Pangulo. Kung ano ang maibibigay na mga ebidensiya at dapat nating igalang,” Castro stated.</p>

<p>Malacanang said Wednesday that it respects the decision of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granting the prosecution's bid to discharge former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a co-accused of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in plunder and graft cases over the alleged flood control kickback scheme.</p>

Malacanang said Wednesday that it respects the decision of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granting the prosecution's bid to discharge former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a co-accused of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in plunder and graft cases over the alleged flood control kickback scheme.

Palace respects Sandiganbayan decision discharging Bonoan as co-accused in Estrada flood control cases

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Palace respects Sandiganbayan decision discharging Bonoan as co-accused in Estrada flood control cases

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 02, 2026 04:13 PM PHT

Read More:

Palace

Malacanang

Sandiganbayan

Manuel Bonoan

Jinggoy Estrada

Flood Control

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription. If you don’t see it, please check your spam or junk folder.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.