35 flood control cases now pending in courts – Ombudsman

Sandiganbayan’s 5th Division has dropped the plunder and graft cases against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan, according to Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg. The move comes as part of the Office of the Ombudsman’s effort to secure Bonoan’s cooperation as a state witness in the multi-billion flood control scandal. Bonoan remains subject to charges in the 2nd Division of Sandiganbayan, which rejected the Ombudsman’s request to dismiss the graft case against him in August. He is currently on bail in that division. His release from detention follows the dismissal of the cases by the 5th Division. Bonoan faces two separate sets of charges within the Sandiganbayan. One involves a graft charge in the 2nd Division, and the other involves counts of plunder and graft in the 5th Division. These charges were filed in May after the Ombudsman uncovered an alleged intricate mechanism involving illegal budget insertions and project allocations at the DPWH in 2025. Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who is also implicated in these cases, stated he intends to pursue all available legal remedies. He emphasized that the recent developments do not preclude further legal action and expressed confidence in the rule of law. The Ombudsman seeks to grant Bonoan immunity as a state witness to help build the case against former Speaker Martin Romualdez. The Ombudsman believes Bonoan’s testimony could reveal how lawmakers allegedly inserted allocations into the national budget through the DPWH. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano noted that Bonoan’s cooperation is crucial to strengthening the case against Romualdez. The Ombudsman typically grants immunity to state witnesses by dropping them as respondents from the complaints. This approach was used for previous witnesses such as former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former district engineer Henry Alcantara. However, Bonoan’s situation differs because the Ombudsman sought to include him as a witness after he had already been arrested and charged. The Ombudsman reported that 35 cases related to the flood control scandal are currently pending in courts. Of these, 31 are before the Sandiganbayan, while the remaining four are in regional courts. The Sandiganbayan handles major cases, including those against Estrada and former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co. Meanwhile, some lower-level officials face charges in regional trial courts. The Ombudsman is conducting preliminary investigations into 166 flood control-related complaints and performing 107 lifestyle checks on public officials and employees. Preliminary investigations determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with formal charges. Estrada remains the highest-ranking official arrested in connection with the scandal. Efforts to bring others to justice have encountered challenges, particularly with Co, who has avoided legal proceedings since 2025 and has remained outside the country. The Ombudsman continues to investigate allegations of corruption linked to the flood control scandal, with multiple cases still active in different courts.