Sandiganbayan denies Ombudsman's bid to exclude Bonoan from flood control case
The Sandiganbayan court has denied the Ombudsman's request to exclude former DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan from a graft case involving Senator Jinggoy Estrada. The court ruled that removing Bonoan would unfairly alter the case from a conspiracy charge to individual liability.
Why it matters
This ruling impacts the legal strategy and potential outcomes of high-profile corruption cases involving government officials.
Already have Rappler+? Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism.
BONOAN. Former Public Works secretary arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on June 2, 2026, for his arraignment for graft.
The Sandiganbayan court denied the Ombudsman's request to exclude former DPWH official Manuel Bonoan from a graft case involving Senator Jinggoy Estrada. The court ruled that removing Bonoan would prejudice Estrada's rights and alter the nature of the case from conspiracy to individual liability. The Ombudsman may still seek to have Bonoan testify as a state witness in the future, but the current charges against him remain intact. This is AI-generated.
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.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in