Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, in his wheelchair,  leaves the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City after appearing for his arraignment on graft charges alongside Senator Jinggoy Estrada and other DPWH officials on June 2, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA &mdash; &nbsp;Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan will be a state witness in graft cases related to alleged corruption in flood-control projects, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has granted a prosecution motion to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/1/sandiganbayan-grants-bid-to-discharge-bonoan-as-estrada-s-co-accused-in-plunder-graft-2113">discharge Bonoan as a co-accused</a> of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in plunder and graft cases over alleged kickbacks from the projects.&nbsp;&quot;Well, he will be a witness. He will be a witness for the people, para sa taumbayan,&quot; Remulla said.Remulla&#39;s office had asked the Sandiganbayan to remove Bonoan as a co-accused so he can be a state witness, saying the former public works chief &quot;is so uniquely situated that he can explain how projects were identified in agency planning and then included in legislative appropriations&quot;.Estrada had opposed the motion, saying doing so &quot;alters the prosecution&#39;s theory&quot; and would limit his options for a defense.&nbsp;Another 166 cases are undergoing preliminary investigation at the Office of the Ombudsman, which is also conducting lifestyle checks on 107 government officials and employees.&nbsp;<div> </div><div>STABLE CONDITION</div>Bonoan, who is waiting for a release order from the court, is in stable condition, the Philippine National Police said Thursday. &quot;Nandiyan pa po siya at siguro nagpapagaling pa rin (He is inside and probably still recovering) while waiting for the official order from the Sandiganbayan,&quot; PNP spokesperson Police Col. Allan Rae Co said.PNP General Hospital Internal Medicine chief Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani earlier noted that Bonoan was clinically stable but is taking maintenance medicationRemulla during his office&#39;s budget hearing before the Senate Finance Committee reported that there are now 35 cases &mdash; 31 at the Sandiganbayan and four at regional trial courts &mdash; on the flood control scandal already in court.

Remulla's office had asked the Sandiganbayan to remove Bonoan as a co-accused so he can be a state witness, saying the former public works chief "is so uniquely situated that he can explain how projects were identified in agency planning and then included in legislative appropriations".

Remulla's office had asked the Sandiganbayan to remove Bonoan as a co-accused so he can be a state witness, saying the former public works chief "is so uniquely situated that he can explain how projects were identified in agency planning and then included in legislative appropriations".

Remulla: Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan will be state witness in flood-control corruption cases

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Remulla: Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan will be state witness in flood-control corruption cases

Michael Delizo,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2026 03:07 PM PHT

|

Updated September 03, 2026 03:27 PM PHT

Read More:

Manuel Bonoan

Jesus Crispin Remulla

Office of the Ombudsman

Sandiganbayan

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