MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday insisted it will not interfere with the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman in dealing with former public works chief Manuel Bonoan in connection with the flood control scandal.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier bared that they are dropping charges against Bonoan en route to utilizing him as a state witness in the flood control cases.
“We will not interfere with what the Ombudsman's policy will be because we know that it is an independent body,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing.
The OMB has reportedly secured signed agreement for Bonoan’s cooperation in the probe with a motion now filed before the Sandiganbayan to discharge him as an accused.
The former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary is currently facing a non-bailable P573-million plunder charge alongside Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for allegedly receiving kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
Castro stressed that Remulla has free rein on how to proceed with Bonoan’s case including the required restitution to be formally recognized as a state witness.
“We’ve also heard that proposal when he was still Secretary of the Department of Justice, that restitution was required,” the official said.
“So, again, we do not know what the policy of the Office of the Ombudsman will be, maybe it will be the same as his view when he was Secretary of Justice,” she added.
