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Sandiganbayan Drops Graft and Plunder Charges Against Manuel Bonoan

The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the plunder and graft charges against former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, impacting an ongoing investigation into a flood control scandal.

2 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Sandiganbayan Drops Graft and Plunder Charges Against Manuel Bonoan — Archive photoPhoto: Commission on Appointments of the Philippines · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has dropped plunder and graft charges against Manuel Bonoan, former Secretary of Public Works and Highways. This decision clears Bonoan from being an accused in two cases related to alleged kickbacks worth P573 million, as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A member of the prosecution team confirmed that Bonoan is no longer facing these charges in the Fifth Division. This development comes after the Office of the Ombudsman moved to dismiss the cases, aiming to position Bonoan as a potential state witness in the investigation tied to the multi-billion peso flood control scandal, as stated by Rappler.

Following the ruling, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. respects the Sandiganbayan's decision. Castro emphasized the principle of separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches, affirming that the executive will honor the judiciary's determination in this matter.

The case had drawn significant attention given the alleged involvement of high-level officials in a corruption scheme linked to flood control projects. The dismissal of the charges may alter the course of the ongoing inquiry into the scandal, as Bonoan could provide testimony if accepted as a state witness.

As the legal proceedings come to a close for Bonoan regarding these specific charges, the implications for the broader investigation remain uncertain. The Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan's future actions regarding this case could further shape the legal landscape as it pertains to allegations of corruption within the government.

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