PNP: Bonoan may not be released Thursday night pending records check

Despite the Sandiganbayan ordering the release of former Public Works chief Manuel Bonoan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) may still hold him temporarily on Thursday night.

PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said that they have already received a copy of the order from the Sandiganbayan and it is being processed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“Makikita naman po natin sa order ang last sentence doon ‘unless he's being detained for any other lawful reason’, so ang ating CIDG will be doing their due diligence na titingnan po natin kung mayroon pang ibang outstanding warrant against him or if he's facing any other cases sa ibang division,” Co told reporters.

(You can see it in the order that the last sentence there is 'unless he's being detained for any other lawful reason', so the CIDG will be doing their due dilligence that; we will check if there is any other outstanding warrant against him or if he's facing any other cases in other divisions.)

Asked if it is possible that Bonoan will not be released tonight, Co answered in the affirmative.

Co said that after checking Bonoan's records, they will follow the court's orders and release him. The process should be done by Friday morning.

Bonoan has been detained at the PNP General Hospital due to his old age and medical conditions. Co said that they will do final medical checks on him but he would also be free to seek treatment wherever he wants.

“Based on the reports, nasa stable condition naman ang kanyang health,” Co said. (Based on reports, his health is in stable condition.)

Co said that since Bonoan is a free man, there would be no reason for the police to escort him anywhere.

The anti-graft court dropped Bonoan after he was removed from the plunder case against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, in relation to the flood control scam. Bonoan, in turn, will serve as a government witness. —LDF, GMA News