Sandiganbayan orders release of ex-DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan

[Updated Sept. 3, 2026, 7:06 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Thursday ordered the release of former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan.

A resolution from the court showed that the order committing Bonoan to hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) in Camp Crame was recalled.

With this move, the Fifth Division granted a motion made orally during the hearing earlier on Thursday by lawyer Stefanie Ong, Bonoan’s legal counsel, seeking the secretary’s release.

This came two days after the court granted a motion by state prosecutors to exclude Bonoan from the graft and plunder charges against him, Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and three former DPWH district engineers.

READ: Dissenting view: Bonoan removal as co-accused questioned

The motion came amid a bid by the Office of the Ombudsman to use Bonoan as a state witness in other cases related to the flood control corruption scandal.

Bonoan had been under hospital arrest since last June at the PNPGH in Camp Crame due to several illnesses.

Estrada, then-South Manila District Engineering Office (DEO) chief Manny Bulusan, then-Quezon City 1st DEO chief Arturo Gonzales Jr. and then-North Manila DEO assistant chief Denryl Caesar Cortuna are accused of amassing a total of P573.75 million in kickbacks through projects included in the 2025 national budget.

In an interview in Camp Crame after the issuance of the resolution, PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co explained that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was still processing Bonoan for release.

“He is a free man. Wala nang legal reason for us to hold him. It’s up to him kung saan niya gusto magpagaling,” Co said.

(He is a free man. There’s no legal reason for us to hold him. It’s up to him where else to be medically treated.)

“Due diligence lang naman,” he added.

(It’s just due diligence.)

Later on Thursday, the CIDG explained that it has yet to officially receive the Sandiganbayan order but that it was already in the process of validating the issuance.

“We assure the public that the PNP will comply [with] the Sandiganbayan order and respect the rule of law,” it added.

On Wednesday, PNPGH internal medicine chief Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani noted that Bonoan was clinically stable but was still under maintenance medication. /jpv /gsg /mr