Ex-Public Works Secretary Pleads Not Guilty in Graft Case Over Flood Control Projects

MANILA, Philippines — Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Friday pleaded not guilty to a graft case, hours after he was released following the dismissal of two separate cases of plunder and graft in connection with the flood control scandal. Bonoan’s counsel Stephanie Ong entered the plea during his arraignment before the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division, which is chaired by Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg. The graft case links him to an alleged conspiracy with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to include flood control projects in the 2025 budget, from which Estrada allegedly got a P213.7-million kickback. The Second Division earlier denied a motion by Ombudsman prosecutors to amend the information to discharge Bonoan. After the arraignment, the court proceeded to pretrial, overruling a manifestation from Ong who argued that her client was “not yet ready,” since he had yet to submit his pretrial brief. On Friday morning, Bonoan, 81, was discharged a free man from the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, where he had been confined for treatment of ailments since his surrender in June. He did not face the media. This case highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in infrastructure development projects in the Philippines, especially amidst the escalating South China Sea situation where large-scale public works can become breeding grounds for disputes and malfeasance. The management of government funds is under scrutiny.