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Sandiganbayan Orders Release of Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan

The Sandiganbayan has mandated the release of ex-Secretary Manuel Bonoan from police custody after dropping related charges.

3 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Sandiganbayan Orders Release of Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan — Archive photoPhoto: Eric Fischer · Flickr · BY

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the release of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan from police custody. This decision comes after the formal removal of charges against him, as reported by The Philippine Star.

A resolution from the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division details that Bonoan's prior commitment to hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital has been rescinded. The update was provided by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on September 3, 2026.

According to Rappler, Bonoan is currently out on bail concerning a separate case under the Second Division, while the charges under the Fifth Division were discarded following a request from the Office of the Ombudsman. This reflects a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against him.

Sandiganbayan Orders Release of Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan — Photo: Presidential Communications Office · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

The Fifth Division's recent decision occurred just two days after the court approved the Office of the Ombudsman's move to exclude Bonoan as an accused in two notable cases related to a flood control corruption scandal.

The events mark a pivotal moment for Bonoan, as he transitions from hospital arrest back to freedom amidst the declining charges against him.

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