Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan,
JUST days after returning to the Philippines, former Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan is now facing a plunder complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with alleged irregularities linked to flood control projects, according to Justice Department spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez.
Martinez revealed on Monday that Bonoan is a respondent in a plunder complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and is a co-respondent of Senator Jinggoy Estrada in the same case.
“Yes, former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan is a respondent in the case filed by the NBI for plunder, among other charges. He is a co-respondent of Senator Jinggoy Estrada in the same case,” Martinez told reporters.
The DOJ spokesperson said the case has not yet been scheduled for preliminary investigation as it is still awaiting assignment to a panel of prosecutors.
“As of today, there is no schedule for preliminary investigation yet. The case will be assigned to a panel of handling prosecutors,” he said. Martinez added that no subpoena has been issued so far against Bonoan, clarifying that this would only be done once the panel of prosecutors is formally constituted.
According to Martinez, the plunder complaint does not focus on a single project or locality but encompasses allegations of ill-gotten wealth exceeding ₱50 million, allegedly amassed through a series of transactions tied to flood control projects.
While the allegations are primarily related to flood control projects, Martinez emphasized that the transactions cited in the complaint all arose from flood control-related projects. “Lahat po yan arising from flood control projects and the transactions included in and related to these projects,” he said.
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