Bonoan immunity deal faces Sandiganbayan test

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman will make a crucial push on Tuesday, July 14, for its immunity deal with former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan, as prosecutors ask the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to allow an amended charge sheet removing him as an accused. The hearing is scheduled at 1:30 pm before the Sandiganbayan’s 2nd Division. If granted, Senator Jinggoy Estrada will remain as the sole defendant in the case involving alleged misuse of public works funds. The original charge sheet filed on May 28 accused Estrada and Bonoan of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly causing government losses by diverting over P213 million, or 25% of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget for infrastructure projects in Bulacan. Must Read Bonoan as state witness can help pin down Romualdez, says assistant Ombudsman It was alleged that Estrada sought P355 million for the province’s 1st District and another P500 million for its remaining districts, with 25% of the allocations allegedly returned as kickbacks. Prosecutors alleged that the projects were inserted into the National Expenditure Program, the House of Representatives’ version of the budget, the bicameral conference committee report and eventually the 2025 national budget. The 5th Division of the Sandiganbayan is also set to hear on Wednesday, July 15, a similar motion seeking to remove Bonoan as an accused in separate plunder and graft cases. That case also involves allegations that Estrada received P350 million in kickbacks from irregular infrastructure contracts in Metro Manila and Oriental Mindoro. Investigators said the amount represented 25% of DPWH funds requested by the senator for flood control and other public works projects. Under court rules, the decision to discharge an accused from a case rests with the Sandiganbayan. The removal of Bonoan as a defendant is being pursued through an amended information, which prosecutors said is allowed because he has yet to be arraigned in any of the cases. The proposed amendment follows Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s announcement on June 29 that prosecutors had reached an agreement with Bonoan, who would cooperate in other government cases and testify as a state witness. Remulla said Bonoan could provide important information because, as a former DPWH secretary, he had knowledge of discussions involving lawmakers’ budget requests and alleged insertions. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Bonoan initiated the arrangement after sending Remulla a letter in early June offering information that could implicate several lawmakers. – Rappler.com