MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has summoned former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to testify Wednesday, August 12, in the ₱92.8-million malversation case against former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. over an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the subpoena on August 7 following a request from the prosecution during the hearing of Revilla’s case.

Bonoan was ordered to appear before the court at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

The court also directed Police Brigadier General Portia Manalad, director of the Philippine National Police Health Service, to bring Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan on the same date and time.

Bonoan, 80, is currently under hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital due to health conditions including diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

The prosecution sought Bonoan’s testimony after former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified about the alleged inclusion of the Pandi flood control project in the national budget.

Bernardo previously told the court that Bonoan exercised discretionary control over a portion of the DPWH budget for projects proposed for inclusion in the National Expenditure Program.

During Revilla’s bail hearing, Bernardo also testified that Revilla allegedly secured around ₱1.5 billion in project allocations after requesting them from Bonoan and later received ₱500 million in kickbacks. Revilla has denied involvement in the alleged scheme.

The case involves a ₱92.8-million flood control project in Pandi that the Sandiganbayan inspected in April and found had no physical structure on site.

On July 31, the Sandiganbayan Third Division granted Revilla’s petition for bail, ruling that the prosecution failed to present an “iota of proof” linking him to the alleged anomalous project.

The decision, penned by Associate Justice Fritz delos Santos and concurred in by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, was opposed by Third Division chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda.

Miranda argued that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish Revilla’s “indispensable” role in the alleged malversation.

“The allegation in the Information that Revilla facilitated or caused the inclusion of the subject project in the General Appropriations Act does not necessarily require proof that he personally intervened in congressional deliberation,” Miranda said.

He added that the allegation could cover actions taken before the budget legislation that enabled or initiated the process leading to the project’s inclusion in the national budget.

The Office of the Ombudsman has appealed the bail ruling, arguing that the Sandiganbayan overlooked evidence presented against Revilla.

Meanwhile, Bonoan is also facing a ₱573-million plunder charge and two counts of graft in connection with alleged flood control anomalies.

He is a co-accused in a separate plunder and graft case involving Senator Jinggoy Estrada, but the Ombudsman has accepted his offer to become a state witness and sought to drop him from the cases.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division earlier rejected the prosecution’s motion to exclude Bonoan as an accused in the Estrada case.

The Ombudsman has said it intends to seek reconsideration of that ruling.

Bonoan’s testimony before the Third Division is expected to shed further light on the alleged irregularities surrounding the Pandi flood control project.