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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman: Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan to turn state witness in flood-control cases

Ombudsman: Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan to turn state witness in flood-control cases

Published Jun 29, 2026 04:29 pm

At A Glance

  • Remulla said the anti-graft office would now seek Bonoan's discharge before the anti-graft court to allow him to testify for the prosecution.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/MB PHOTO)
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/MB PHOTO)
The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) will ask the Sandiganbayan to discharge former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a respondent so he can testify as a state witness in several cases involving alleged anomalies in flood-control projects, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said on Monday, June 29.
Remulla disclosed that they already secured Bonoan’s cooperation, adding that an agreement was already signed. 
“We already have a signed agreement for the cooperation of former [DPWH] Secretary Manuel Bonoan to a state witness—to be a cooperating witness,” he said during a press briefing.
Remulla said the anti-graft office would now seek Bonoan’s discharge before the anti-graft court to allow him to testify for the prosecution.
“We will ask the court to discharge him as a respondent for him to testify for us as a state witness,” he said.
According to the Ombudsman, Bonoan’s testimony is expected to strengthen multiple cases already filed by the Ombudsman because of his knowledge of the inner workings of the DPWH.
“The knowledge that he has about the whole institution is something very important to us to be able to prove many cases. We will be benefiting from his testimony with regards to so many of the cases we have filed,” he said.
On May 28, the OMB filed plunder and graft charges before the anti-graft court against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Bonoan over alleged illegal budget insertions and purported kickbacks linked to DPWH infrastructure and flood-control projects funded under the Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

Related Tags

Office of the Ombudsman Sandiganbayan Manuel Bonoan DPWH flood-control projects Jesus Crispin Remulla graft plunder state witness corruption
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