MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday clarified that it will first have to clear that former Public Works chief Manuel does not have other pending cases before releasing him from custody following Sandiganbayan’s order to set him free.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granted Bonoan’s bid to be released from detention after the court dropped him from plunder and graft cases over the alleged flood control kickback scheme.
Col. Allen Rae Co, PNP spokesman confirmed that the PNP has already received a copy of the Sandiganbayan release order and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is now going through Bonoan’s records as ordered by the anti-graft court.
“Titingnan natin kung meron pang ibang outstanding warrant against him or he is facing any other cases sa ibang division. As we understand ay 5th division ang naglabas ng release order so titingnan natin kung meron pa sa ibang division but after that of course susundin natin, we will faithfully follow all orders from the court,”
(We will check if there are any other outstanding warrants against him or if he is facing other cases in other divisions. As we understand it, it was the 5th Division that issued the release order, so we will check if there are any [cases] in other divisions. But after that, of course, we will follow — we will faithfully follow all orders from the court.)
Co said going through Bonoan’s record might take until Friday (September 4) morning which means his release will not be outright.
“Tomorrow morning titingnan na kaagad ‘yan [we will look into it] and it will be finished,” he said.
As a free man, Bonoan, who is currently detained at the PNP General Hospital, can now decide where to head after his release, avail of an ambulance going home and even where to seek medical attention.
Co said the PNP likewise “no longer” sees any reason to escort him in his hearings before the Sandiganbayan where he is poised to appear as a witness.
