MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan 5th Division, in a resolution made public on Friday, June 5, granted former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan’s motion to be put under hospital arrest while his plunder and graft cases are pending.
“Accordingly, the court partially grants accused Manuel Manligas Bonoan’s urgent ex abudanti ad cautelam motion to allow accused Manuel Manligas Bonoan under hospital arrest while case is pending dated June 1, 2026. Accused Bonoan is allowed to be confined at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City,” 5th Division Chairperson Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses penned.
Division members Associate Justices Maryann Corpus Mañalac and Gener Gito concurred.
The 80-year-old Bonoan said in his motion that he is suffering from usual illnesses and conditions related to his age that require “constant special medical attention.” Based on his medical certificate issued by his personal physician, the former DPWH secretary is suffering from:
- Chronic Renal Disease (stage 4)
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Gouty arthritis
- Spondylolisthesis (spinal ailment)
- Dyslipidemia (abnormal amount of lipids)
- Prostate cancer
Apart from plunder and graft, Bonoan also faces another count of graft in the 2nd Division due to their alleged involvement in flood control insertions. His fellow accused include Senator Jinggoy Estrada and some DPWH officials.
Bonoan and Estrada were able to post bail for their 2nd Division graft case on Friday, May 29. However, they were subsequently arrested on Monday, June 1, when the 5th Division issued the warrant for plunder, a non-bailable offense, and graft.
Since June 1, Bonoan has been to two different hospitals to monitor his health. During his supposed arraignment at the 2nd Division on June 2, he arrived in a wheelchair and was assisted by doctors from the Philippine National Police and Sandiganbayan.
“It is a temporary measure given by the Sandiganbayan. A formal medical diagnosis will be forwarded to the Sandiganbayan. He had two procedures this week to treat his heart attack,” Department of the Interior and Local Government chief Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla told Rappler.
Due to his medical condition, Bonoan has yet to be arraigned by both the 2nd and the 5th Division.
Court’s ruling
Bonoan invoked the Enrile v. Sandiganbayan case — the ruling where the late former senator Juan Ponce Enrile was granted bail by the Supreme Court on humanitarian grounds. The former DPWH chief argued that “advanced age and ill health requiring special medical attention were considered sufficient grounds to justify the grant of provisional liberty.” (READ: Behind the SC decision on Enrile’s bail)
“Finally, accused argues that if the Supreme Court could completely release an accused on bail based on advanced age, frail health and humanitarian considerations, then with even stronger reason this court must consider the grant of the far more restrictive, secure and measured relief of hospital arrest for accused Bonoan,” the former DPWH chief argued, adding that he would shoulder all his hospital bills and expenses.
The Ombudsman prosecutors opposed Bonoan’s hospital arrest request, saying that his justifications were insufficient and questionable.
“Finally, the Prosecution maintains that a hospital arrest is an extraordinary relief that demands compelling justification, which [the] accused has failed to meet,” said the prosecution.
But the 5th Division ruled in Bonoan’s favor, explaining that when life-threatening conditions are present, that person’s right to life and health prevail over enforcement of mandatory detentions. It added that the court “cannot turn a blind eye to humanitarian exigencies that present a clear and present danger to his life.”
“From the foregoing, if the Supreme Court found it legally permissible to grant full provisional liberty to an elderly/ill accused on humanitarian grounds, it stands to reason that the same logic can justify the grant of the less restrictive alternative but highly monitored arrangement of hospital arrest,” the 5th Division said.
The Court also noted Bonoan’s return to the country in January to cooperate with the Senate blue ribbon committee after staying overseas for a while, and his surrender to the Sandiganbayan 2nd Division on Friday when the graft warrant was issued.
“These overt acts reflect [the] accused’s respect for the legal processes and willingness to face the charges against him,” the Court added. – Rappler.com