Tinio urges Remulla to disclose state witness deal with Bonoan

MANILA, Philippines – ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio on Monday urged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to disclose the terms of the agreement that allowed former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan to serve as a state witness in exchange for immunity from plunder charges tied to the flood control scandal.

In a statement, Tinio said Bonoan “is one of the top officials” who should be held accountable for the corruption scandal, which has eroded public trust in government, paralyzed state spending, and slowed economic growth.

“As alter ego of the president in his capacity as secretary of DPWH, he had the final say in both the preparation and spending of the agency budget, including the budgetary insertions and massive kickbacks from ghost and overpriced flood control projects,” Tinio said.

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“Bonoan must not be let off the hook without delivering fish bigger than himself,” he added. “Otherwise, the deal will reek.”

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READ: Remulla: Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan to be state witness

Remulla on Monday said Bonoan will become a state witness despite being a respondent in a plunder case before the Sandiganbayan. State prosecutors have already filed a motion to dismiss the case against Bonoan, whose testimony will be crucial due to his institutional knowledge within the DPWH, he added.

Tinio asked: “Is the testimony of state witnesses such as [former DPWH] Usec. Roberto Bernardo not enough? Can Bonoan point to and press his former Cabinet colleagues also implicated in the flood control scandal?”

“Does he have testimony that would directly implicate the President himself, similar to Bernardo’s account?” he asked. /mcm

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