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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ex-DPWH Sec Bonoan charged with plunder as co-respondent of Sen Jinggoy Estrada -- DOJ

Ex-DPWH Sec Bonoan charged with plunder as co-respondent of Sen Jinggoy Estrada -- DOJ

Published Jan 19, 2026 01:34 pm
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel M. Bonoan is a co-respondent of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in a plunder charge filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the “anomalous” flood control projects.
DOJ Spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez confirmed the filing of the charge against Bonoan who returned to the Philippines last Sunday, Jan. 18, from his foreign trip.
Martinez, however, did not disclose the details of the plunder charge.
He merely said: “The complaint for Plunder is not localized to a single project or locality. It encompasses allegations of acquisition of ill-gotten wealth of more than P50 million through a combination and/or series of several transactions.”
Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7080, the Anti-Plunder Act of 1991, states: “Any public officer who, by himself or in connivance with members of his family, relatives by affinity or consanguinity, business associates, subordinates or other persons, amasses, accumulates or acquires ill-gotten wealth through a combination or series of overt or criminal acts … in the aggregate amount or total value of at least P50,000,000 shall be guilty of the crime of plunder and shall be punished by reclusion perpetua….”
Also, the law states that “any and all ill-gotten wealth and their interests and other incomes and assets, including the properties and shares of stocks derived from the deposit or investment thereof, forfeited in favor of the State.”
Martinez said the DOJ has yet to form a panel of prosecutors which will conduct the preliminary investigation of the plunder charges.
Thereafter, he said that Bonoan and Estrada will be subpoenaed for the filing of their counter-affidavits.
Bonoan left for the United States on Nov. 11, 2025 to accompany his wife for a medical procedure but informed the DOJ that he will return to the Philippines on Dec. 17, 2025 but failed to do so. He arrived last Sunday.
Martinez said that Bonoan’s arrival was immediately reported to DOJ Acting Secretary Fredderick A. Vida.
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