Bonoan unable to attend arraignment due to ‘medical reasons’ — CIDG NCR

MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan is unable to attend his arraignment hearings at the Sandiganbayan on Thursday due to “medical reasons,” the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group National Capital Region (CIDG NCR) said.

“We have already coordinated with the Sandiganbayan 5th Division that he is unable to appear,” CIDG NCR head Col. John Guiagui told reporters in Camp Crame.

“If you can see, Senator Jinggoy Estrada is there. But, Secretary Bonoan is not there because of medical reasons… There is clogging in something in his heart and his blood pressure is still fluctuating.”

READ: Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan transferred to private hospital — PNP

Bonoan was confined at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital on Monday due to a spike in his blood pressure following his surrender to the CIDG after the Sandiganbayan ordered for his arrest for plunder.

He was supposedly in stable condition by Tuesday morning and appeared before the Sandiganbayan but was brought back to the PNP General Hospital after his blood pressure spiked again.

The ex-DPWH chief was transferred to a private hospital on Tuesday night, according to PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co, citing that the PNP General Hospital was only a level-two facility.

Asked for an update on Bonoan’s condition as of Thursday morning, PHP Health Service director Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad said in a text message sent to reporters, “He’s completing his labs to determine the cause and possible clearance if a surgical procedure is needed.”

“It depends on the advice of his attending physician… His age is a risk factor and he also has a concern with his kidney,” she added.

Bonoan, Estrada and three DPWH officials are accused of graft and plunder before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the flood control corruption scandal. /das