Ex-DPWH chief pleads not guilty to graft charges over budget irregularities

MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan pleaded not guilty on Friday to graft charges before the Sandiganbayan Second Division. Bonoan’s graft case stemmed from his alleged conspiracy with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to ensure the inclusion of flood control projects in Bulacan in the 2025 budget, where the senator allegedly received a P213.7 million kickback. Bonoan’s counsel Stephanie Ong informed the court that they would waive the former DPWH chief’s right to have the formal charges read against him. “May we request that the reading of information be waived as we already explained it to the counsel,” Ong told the court. Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, the Second Division chairperson, took note of the request, and the prosecution did not object. “We received on record already the waiver,” Econg said. “May I know how the accused pleads?” “Your Honor, not guilty po,” Bonoan said. Earlier, Bonoan was released from hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame after the anti-graft court Fifth Division dropped his plunder case. READ: Ex-DPWH Bonoan released from PNP custody Bonoan’s plunder case led to his hospital arrest, so Ombudsman prosecutors filed a motion to amend the information to remove him from the charges before the Fifth Division. On Tuesday, the Fifth Division granted this motion. Only 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 the information to discharge Bonoan, this time from the graft charge. Bonoan has filed a motion for reconsideration to appeal this court ruling. After the arraignment, Econg said the court would proceed to the pretrial proceedings. But Ong noted that Bonoan is “not ready” for pretrial, saying they have yet to submit his pretrial brief. Ong said they were “preventing ourselves” from submitting the pretrial brief should their MR be granted. “Given the chance, we were able to submit this pretrial brief as soon as possible,” Ong said. Estrada’s counsel said they would like the pretrial proceedings to begin. The proceedings, which include the stipulation of facts between parties, still proceeded./coa