Bonoan Dropped as Co-Accused in Estrada Graft Case, May Turn State Witness

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has allowed the exclusion of former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan from the plunder and graft charges filed against officials including Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the flood control corruption scandal. The prosecution has confirmed that the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division has granted its motion to drop Bonoan from the list of the accused in the plunder and graft cases, paving the way for him to turn state witness. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had moved for Bonoan’s exclusion from the charges, saying Bonoan could be a witness in the cases being readied against President Marcos’ cousin, former House speaker Martin Romualdez. The camp of Romualdez had said Remulla was forcing Bonoan to testify against the former speaker, who has denied any wrongdoing. Marcos said in his State of the Nation Address in July that charges were being readied against Romualdez and that he would not interfere. Bonoan was facing one count of plunder and two counts of graft over alleged P573-million worth of kickbacks from flood control projects. Bonoan now only faces a bailable graft charge before the Second Division. Bonoan, who has been in hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital, may now be allowed temporary freedom as he had already posted bail on the remaining graft case against him. The Second Division previously denied the prosecution’s request to exclude him from the case for lack of merit. The prosecution, in its motion, had wanted to single out Estrada as the lone accused for violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 for allegedly collecting P213,750,000 or 25 percent of kickbacks for two DPWH projects in Bulacan. The initial information alleged that Bonoan and Estrada worked together to ensure the insertions. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had said his office wanted Bonoan to testify in the corruption-related cases being eyed against former speaker Martin Romualdez. The camp of Romualdez has alleged that Remulla is forcing Bonoan to produce evidence against the lawmaker over the flood control scandal, particularly in the budget process. Several former Marines have retracted their accusations that they delivered suitcases of cash as kickbacks to the houses of Romualdez.