Tinio questions Ombudsman deal with Bonoan
Daily TribuneACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Monday called on the Office of the Ombudsman to explain its decision to enter into an agreement with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan to become a state witness despite his pending plunder case.
In a statement, Tinio questioned the move to grant Bonoan immunity, arguing that the former Public Works chief played a key role in the alleged flood control anomaly.
"He is one of the top officials that should be held accountable instead of being handed a get out of jail card," Tinio said.
The lawmaker noted that Bonoan, as DPWH secretary, served as the "alter ego" of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and had the final authority over the department's planning and expenditures.
Tinio also questioned whether the Ombudsman believed the testimony of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo was insufficient to build a strong case against those implicated in the alleged anomaly.
He further asked whether Bonoan would provide testimony similar to Bernardo's, which allegedly implicated President Marcos as a beneficiary of the alleged kickback scheme.
"Bonoan must not be let off the hook without delivering fish bigger than himself. Otherwise, this agreement will start to smell fishy," Tinio said.
Meanwhile, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste expressed support for Bonoan's designation as a state witness, saying the former DPWH secretary could provide valuable information on the alleged flood control irregularities.
In a social media post, Leviste said he had been advocating since 21 January for Bonoan to become a witness and expressed hope that the former Cabinet official would help uncover the truth behind the controversy.
"Hopefully we can give Secretary Bonoan the chance to be a hero in the whole flood control controversy, particularly since he voluntarily went home to the country to face the Senate," Leviste said in a radio interview.
Leviste also cited Bonoan's age as a consideration.
Bonoan remains under hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Quezon City while recovering from hypertension and diabetes. He faces pending graft and plunder cases before the Sandiganbayan.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said prosecutors had already filed a motion seeking the dismissal of Bonoan's criminal liability as part of the process of making him a state witness.
