Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan was released from police custody Friday morning, a day after the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan ordered his release to serve as a potential state witness in flood control corruption cases.
The 80-year-old former Cabinet official was turned over to his family by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). His vehicle left the premises of the PNP General Hospital inside Camp Crame at around 10:35 a.m.
Bonoan had been under hospital arrest at the facility since surrendering in June over plunder and graft charges. During his detention, he received medical treatment for diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and other underlying health conditions.
The Sandiganbayan ordered his release Thursday afternoon after granting the prosecution’s request to drop the charges against him, paving the way for his turn as a government witness in related flood control cases.
CIDG-National Capital Region chief Col. John Guiagui explained that authorities were unable to process the release on Thursday because the CIDG received the court order via email at 5 p.m. Additionally, the order was addressed to the PNP Health Service rather than the CIDG.
“So what we did this morning, right after the first hour of office, was to go to the Sandiganbayan to certify there is really a release order,” Guiagui said.
Guiagui added that officers also conducted a background check to confirm whether Bonoan had any other pending cases or warrants that would justify his continued detention.
“These were all cleared,” Guiagui said, noting that the former public works chief was “happy to be released.”