Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan,
FORMER Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan has been released from custody following an order from the Sandiganbayan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Friday.
Bonoan had been under hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City, since earlier proceedings, before his convoy finally departed the facility at around 10:35 a.m. on Friday morning.
The release was not carried out immediately because the court order was received by email only around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday — too late to process the same day, according to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region (CIDG‑NCR) chief Police Colonel John Guiagui. On Friday morning, CIDG‑NCR personnel proceeded to the Sandiganbayan to secure an official certification confirming the release order, a necessary step before the former secretary could be set free.
Authorities also conducted a thorough cross-check with all Sandiganbayan divisions to verify that Bonoan had no other pending cases or outstanding legal processes that would prevent his release. Once confirmed, the order was fully implemented, and Bonoan was allowed to leave the hospital detention facility.
metrosundaily
