THE Clerk of Court of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division confirmed on Tuesday that former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan has formally filed a petition requesting to be placed under hospital arrest.
This development comes a day after he was brought to the PNP General Hospital for medical treatment, where he was admitted due to high blood pressure that spiked following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him in connection with the flood control funds anomaly.
Authorities transported Bonoan from the hospital to the anti‑graft court earlier in the day, where he was seen in a wheelchair, underscoring concerns over his physical condition.
He stands charged alongside Senator Jinggoy Estrada and others with plunder and graft over the alleged misuse of public funds worth millions of pesos. Unlike Estrada, who has since been transferred to a regular jail facility, Bonoan has remained under medical observation, prompting his legal team to seek special detention arrangements suitable for his health status.
At present, details regarding the legal grounds cited in his petition and the specific medical facility where he wishes to be detained are still being verified.
The court has yet to rule on the request, and authorities continue to monitor his situation closely. Should the Sandiganbayan grant the motion, Bonoan will remain confined under strict security measures, ensuring that while he receives necessary medical care, he also remains within the custody of the law while the proceedings against him move forward.
