THE Sandiganbayan Third Division has compelled former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan to appear before it and testify in the trial of the malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents case filed against former senator Ramon Revilla Jr.
The subpoena addressed to the National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) was issued by the Sandiganbayan on Friday upon the request in open court by the prosecution team.
Bonoan has been placed under hospital arrests owing to his medical condition.
The summon specifically requires Bonoan to bring documents, records or evidence and to testify in court in relation to the case.
‘You are hereby commanded to appear and testify before the Sandiganbayan, Third Division,’ the subpoena stated.
The anti-graft court also directed Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad, PNP Health Service director, ‘to produce the body’ of Bonoan before it on August 12 at 8:30 a.m.
Bonoan has been charged as co-accused in the plunder and graft case filed against opposition Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the flood control scandal.
The Ombudsman has filed motions seeking to drop Bonoan as co-accused of Sen. Jose Pimentel Ejercito alias Jinggoy Estrada in order to use him as prosecution’s state witness in the plunder and other criminal being prepared against former speaker Martin Romualdez.
The Sandiganbayan Second Division, which is handling the graft case of Estrada and Bonoan, has already denied the Ombudsman’s motion to withdraw the case against the latter.
On the other hand, Revilla has been temporarily released from detention after his bail application was granted by the Third Division on July 31.
Revilla has been charged with malversation and graft before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly conspiring to facilitate the release of approximately P92.8 million for the supposed construction of a flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan, which was never implemented based on official inspection and witness accounts.
The information accused Revilla of obtaining a list of DPWH projects for funding from former DPWH Undersecretary-turned state witness Roberto Bernardo, facilitated and caused the inclusion of these listed projects , and received advance kickbacks in the funds allotted for the said projects.
Bernardo had claimed that he delivered P125 million to Revilla’s residence in 2024, and another P250 million delivered by his staff before the 2025 elections in exchange for facilitating or endorsing flood control projects.