Business · Philippines Bureau
Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan pleads not guilty to graft charges
Former Department of Public Works chief Manuel Bonoan entered a not guilty plea Friday before the Sandiganbayan Second Division in a graft case linked to alleged budget manipulation. Bonoan waived the reading of charges in the proceeding.
LSN Philippines ·
Bonoan appeared before the anti-graft court on Friday to answer allegations stemming from his purported involvement in a scheme to secure flood control project allocations for Bulacan in the 2025 national budget.
The charges against the former DPWH official involve allegations that he conspired with Senator Jinggoy Estrada to ensure the inclusion of these infrastructure projects in the budget cycle, with the senator allegedly receiving P213.7 million in connection with the arrangement.
During the hearing, Bonoan exercised his right to waive the formal reading of the charges against him before entering his plea of not guilty. The decision to waive the reading streamlined the initial proceedings before the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan.
The case forms part of broader investigations into budget-related irregularities and potential corruption within the executive branch and legislature. Bonoan's case is among several matters currently pending before the Sandiganbayan, the country's specialized court handling corruption cases involving high-ranking government officials.