The Sandiganbayan has reset the proceedings of a graft case against Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada, Jr. and former Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan to July 14 amid plans to name Mr. Bonoan a state witness.
The case stems from allegations of irregularities in P213 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan. Mr. Bonoan has yet to be arraigned.
The court action came two days after prosecutors announced plans to discharge Mr. Bonoan to allow him to testify as a state witness. The prosecution intends to use Mr. Bonoan’s testimony to build its case against former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
Prosecutors considered Mr. Bonoan’s testimony necessary to establish “the grand case of conspiracy and plunder” and strengthen the government’s case against the other respondents. They acknowledged that seeking Mr. Bonoan’s discharge was a “tough decision”.
Separately, a youth group has opposed the Ombudsman’s bid to make Mr. Bonoan a state witness, saying the move would compromise the prosecution of the flood control cases and allow him to avoid full accountability.
The group accused the Ombudsman of awarding bad behavior and shifting the blame from President Marcos and his administration. It also criticized delays in pursuing corruption cases, saying the Ombudsman had failed to bring cases to court within its own timeline.
Mr. Estrada and Mr. Bonoan also face a separate plunder case before the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division arising from the same investigation.
