Sandiganbayan summons Bonoan to testify in Bong Revilla's malversation case

The Sandiganbayan has summoned former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who is facing a ₱573-million plunder charge and two counts of graft in connection with alleged flood control anomalies, to testify on Wednesday, August 12, in the ₱92.8-million malversation case against former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.

Revilla’s case also involves a flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan where the Sandiganbayan found no physical structure during an on-site inspection in April.

In a statement, the Sandiganbayan said its Third Division issued two court orders on Friday, August 7, upon the prosecution’s request during the hearing of Revilla’s case.

One was a subpoena directing Bonoan to appear and testify before the court on August 12 at 8:30 a.m.

The court also ordered PNP Health Service Director Police Brigadier General Portia Manalad, director of the Philippine National Police Health Service, to bring Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan on the same date and time.

The Sandiganbayan earlier granted Revilla’s petition for bail and temporarily released the former senator on July 31, ruling that the prosecution failed to present even an “iota of proof” linking him to the alleged anomalous project.

The decision by the Sandiganbayan Third Division was penned by Associate Justice Fritz delos Santos and concurred in by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno.

Third Division chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda dissented, saying the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to show Revilla’s “indispensable” role in the alleged malversation of funds intended for the Bulacan flood control project.

“The allegation in the Information that Revilla facilitated or caused the inclusion of the subject project in the General Appropriations Act does not necessarily require proof that he personally intervened in congressional deliberation," Miranda said.

"It may reasonably include actions undertaken before budget legislation, which enabled, initiated, or set in motion the process that eventually resulted in the project's inclusion in the national budget,” he added.

The Office of the Ombudsman has since appealed the decision, arguing that the anti-graft court disregarded evidence presented by the prosecution against Revilla.

State witness and former district engineer Henry Alcantara testified that the project was among those included in lists he submitted to another state witness, then-Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

The project was later included in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ list of "errata" and eventually received funding under the General Appropriations Act. — MCG, GMA News