Malacañang clarified that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had no power over the Sandiganbayan’s decision to remove former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as an accused in a graft and plunder case.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Sandiganbayan is part of the judiciary and that the separation of powers must be respected.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division earlier granted the Ombudsman’s motion to remove Bonoan from the case.
The court said the Ombudsman has prosecutorial discretion in choosing who may be made a state witness to strengthen its case.
The Ombudsman said Bonoan’s testimony is important in identifying the alleged system behind more than P500 million in kickbacks linked to flood control projects.
Meanwhile, Bonoan is clinically stable but remains confined at the PNP General Hospital.
Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani, chief of the hospital’s Internal Medicine Department, said Bonoan’s blood pressure is controlled. He continues to receive maintenance medication while under close monitoring by the medical team.
The Palace’s clarification comes after the Sandiganbayan decision involving Bonoan, stressing that the decision falls under the judiciary and not the president.
