Bonoan named co-respondent in NBI plunder complaints

Former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan has been named a respondent in a plunder complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice confirmed Monday.

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said Bonoan is a co-respondent of Jinggoy Estrada in the plunder case, which also includes other charges linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Martinez clarified that the complaint does not involve a single project or location.

Instead, it centers on allegations of the accumulation of ill-gotten wealth amounting to more than P50 million, allegedly obtained through a series or combination of transactions connected to flood control initiatives.

“There is no schedule yet for the preliminary investigation,” Martinez said, explaining that the complaint still has to be assigned to a panel of prosecutors.

“The case will be assigned to a panel of handling prosecutors.”

Martinez said subpoenas will only be issued once the panel is formally designated.

Further details of the allegations are expected to emerge once the preliminary investigation begins.

Bonoan returned to the Philippines on Sunday.