House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio on Tuesday welcomed the Sandiganbayan’s decision denying the motion to drop former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan as an accused in the graft case linked to the alleged flood control scam.
“Dapat lang (It’s only right)! Former Secretary Bonoan is not a mere bystander or an innocent bystander in this monumental theft of public funds. He is one of the top officials who orchestrated and implemented the flood control scam that defrauded the Filipino people of billions of pesos,” Tinio said.
On Monday, the Sandiganbayan Second Division denied the motion to exclude Bonoan as an accused in the graft case arising from the alleged flood control anomaly for lack of merit.
In its 12-page resolution, the anti-graft court said Bonoan’s continued inclusion as a co-accused could affect the presentation of evidence, the determination of the parties’ respective roles, and the full ventilation of the issues surrounding the alleged offense.
The ACT Teachers Party-list lawmaker also claimed Bonoan could provide key testimony on the alleged involvement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Furthermore, Bonoan is one of a few officials who can detail the involvement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in this scam,” Tinio said.
As former Public Works secretary, Bonoan had direct knowledge of how flood control budgets were allocated, disbursed, and allegedly diverted, Tinio said.
“His testimony is crucial in establishing the chain of command that leads all the way to the highest office of the land,” he added.
“Ito ang esensya ng lahat ng sangkot dapat managot,” Tinio said.
(That is the essence of this case—all those involved must be held accountable.)
“We cannot allow the masterminds of this grand theft to escape accountability by turning into state witnesses,” he added.