Romualdez camp says Bonoan just being pressured to testify

MANILA, Philippines — Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan might have been pressured to testify regarding the infrastructure corruption scandal now that he may be transferred to an ordinary jail facility, the camp of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Thursday.

Romualdez’s spokesperson Ade Fajardo said in a statement that the possibility of being moved away from hospital arrest once he is medically cleared may have been weighing on Bonoan’s mind, especially with his advanced age — hence the pressure to testify against the former House of Representatives speaker.

“It’s actually bewildering, because now he is currently in hospital arrest.  For example, there is a possibility that, once he is medically cleared, he will be transferred to a regular jail facility.  That may have caused pressure on his mind,” he said in a radio interview with DZRH, transcripts of which were released to reporters covering the House.

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READ: Bonoan back at PNP General Hospital

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“I think he’s more than 80 years old.  We can say that he is in the late stages of his remaining life here on earth.  That’s why there may be some pressure on his mind,” he added.

According to Fajardo, Bonoan has not dropped any testimony that would link Romualdez to the corruption scandal ever since it was unearthed in July 2025, which is why it is surprising that the former Department of Public Works and Highways chief suddenly is being touted as the key witness to pin the ex-speaker down.

“The reason why we are perplexed is that, you know, there is no evidence; as I said, it’s like failing to find evidence along a stream of water, which is why you will force it just to produce one.  In this case, it seems that Sec. Bonoan suddenly had a perfect memory, if reports that he will testify to pin down former Speaker Romualdez are accurate,” he stressed.

“We don’t know as a fact (if he is being manipulated).  But of course as we all think about this matter, it is not a far possibility that many factors enter the mind of Sec. Bonoan,” he added.

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Romualdez has been accused of involvement in the budget mess and the alleged manipulation of funds for infrastructure corruption, but the former speaker’s camp has maintained that no investigation has shown his links to the two issues.

Last July 2, Romualdez’s lawyer Elaine Atienza maintained that attempts to link the Leyte-based solon to the said issues “are not supported by evidence” as the former Speaker cannot have total control of the entire budget process.

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Atienza said this after Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano admitted that the decision to tap Bonoan as a state witness was made in order to strengthen their case against Romualdez.

READ: Ombudsman: Bonoan’s state witness bid made to pin down Romualdez

Atienza also said that not even Bonoan has implicated Romualdez in past investigations and congressional hearings, simply because the lawmaker was not involved in the anomalous insertions.

Fajardo also insisted that there remains no evidence against Romualdez.

“There’s really no evidence, because the former Speaker is not involved in the flood control anomaly.  When they have no evidence but our authorities say that the case is strong, for us they seem to be bluffing because up until now, no case has been filed before the court, there are no criminal cases,” he said.

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“It only means that there is no evidence or the inadequacy of evidence is so huge that it cannot be filled by mere stories,” he added. /mr