Estrada, Bonoan graft hearing reset

THE Sandiganbayan on Wednesday reset to July 14 the proceedings of the graft case against Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada, Jr. and former Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan amid plans to name the latter a state witness.

The case before the anti-graft court’s Second Division 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 Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla announced that prosecutors would move to discharge Mr. Bonoan to allow him to testify as a state witness.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said the prosecution intends to use Mr. Bonoan’s testimony in building its case against former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

He acknowledged that seeking Mr. Bonoan’s discharge was a “tough decision” but said prosecutors considered his testimony necessary to establish “the grand case of conspiracy and plunder,” and strengthen the government’s case against the other respondents.

Separately, Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) on Wednesday 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.

“By allowing Bonoan to become [a] state witness, the Ombudsman is awarding bad behavior and shifting the blame from President Marcos and his administration in their role regarding widespread plunder and fraud,” the group said.

SPARK also criticized what it described as delays in pursuing corruption cases, saying the Ombudsman had failed to bring cases to court within its own timeline. “The longer it takes for the Ombudsman to act, the more they show how weak and ineffectual their anti-corruption campaign has become,” it said.

Mr. Estrada and Mr. Bonoan also face a separate plunder case before the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division arising from the same investigation. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez