Sandiganbayan denies Ombudsman’s bid to exclude Bonoan from flood control case

BONOAN. Former Public Works secretary arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on June 2, 2026, for his arraignment for graft. Jire Carreon/Rappler The anti-graft court says, however, that the Ombudsman may still push to make the former DPWH chief its state witness MANILA, Philippines –The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has denied the Office of the Ombudsman’s request to drop former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan as one of Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s co-accused in a graft case stemming from alleged flood control project corruption. “Wherefore, premises considered, the Motion for Leave to File Amended Information (Re: Exclusion of Accused Manuel Manligas Bonoan) dated June 29, 2026 filed by the plaintiff is hereby denied for lack of merit,” the 2nd Division said in a 12-page resolution dated August 3. In the case, the Ombudsman alleged that the accused “conspired” with one another to receive kickbacks from flood control projects. “Prescinding therefore, the proposed amended information removes the only co-accused and purported conspirator of accused Estrada from the case, thereby modifying the theory of criminal liability from one predicated on conspiracy to one imposing individual liability on the part of accused Estrada,” the Sandiganbayan explained. “Thus, the Court finds that accused Estrada will be prejudiced if the amendment will be allowed at this stage of the proceedings,” it added. The Sandiganbayan said that Rule 110, Section 14 of the Rules of Court states that in amending in information where the accused has already entered a plea, it’s important that the amendments will not prejudice the accused’s right. In the August 3 resolution, the anti-graft court explained that decision to not drop the cases against Bonoan “does not prejudge” his potential value as prosecution’s possible witness. The Ombudsman may still push to make him a state witness, the Sandiganbayan added. “The prosecution is not precluded from subsequently seeking accused Bonoan’s discharge as a state witness as it remains at liberty to seek his discharge at the appropriate stage of the proceedings, provided that the requisites under the rules are met,” said the anti-graft court. The Ombudsman charged Estrada, Bonoan, and DPWH National Capital Region officials in May with plunder and graft over an alleged kickback scheme in the DPWH. The Ombudsman alleged that “an accumulated sum of illicit payouts amounting to an aggregate sum of over P573 million” were delivered to the senator. The two were arrested and were held under custody. Before Bonoan’s arraignment on July 1, the Ombudsman filed a motion for leave to file an amended information to exclude Bonoan from the case and to secure his cooperation and testimony for the prosecution. Estrada’s camp opposed the motion. The court then held a hearing to tackle the motions. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading