SC defers Bonoan, Estrada arraignment

FORMER Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan is in stable condition and remains under medical observation following his surrender to authorities on Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.

“Based on the latest assessment of the PNP Health Service, he is currently conscious, coherent, and oriented,” PNP Chief Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said in a statement. “He has no complaints of headache, dizziness, or any immediate distress at this time.”

Mr. Bonoan is among the co-accused of Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada, Jr. in plunder and graft cases involving the alleged diversion of P573 million in public funds through kickbacks from infrastructure projects.

He was taken to the PNP General Hospital after recording 192/100 blood pressure on Monday, when he voluntarily appeared at Camp Crame in response to an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division.

“He remains under close observation by the hospital’s medical team and continues to receive appropriate medical attention,” Mr. Nartatez said.

Despite this, Mr. Bonoan appeared in a wheelchair during Tuesday’s scheduled arraignment before the Sandiganbayan Second Division for the graft charges.

The court reset the proceedings to Thursday, citing Mr. Bonoan’s medical condition and unresolved motions filed by Mr. Estrada’s defense, including an omnibus motion to quash the information, dismiss the case, or suspend proceedings pending the reopening of the investigation.

His lawyers requested that the court first rule on these motions.

A Sandiganbayan arraignment is a formal proceeding where the anti-graft court reads the corruption charges to an accused public official, who must then enter a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty” to officially begin the trial process.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio accused the Marcos administration of weaponizing state institutions against political opponents and warned that democratic checks and balances were being eroded.

In a video statement released on Tuesday, Ms. Duterte said the government was using public resources and state institutions to silence dissent rather than address pressing national concerns.

Without naming specific officials, she argued that critics of the administration were being targeted and that democratic institutions must remain free from political pressure.

“A democracy cannot survive when those in power see every critic as an enemy and every opposing voice as a threat,” she said.

The statement comes as the Senate faces growing pressure over the handling of Ms. Duterte’s impeachment case.

Majority legislators have been skipping sessions since Monday following the arrest of Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada.

Ms. Duterte is accused of graft and allegedly plotting to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., First Lady Marie Louise A. Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking and Chloe Mari A. Hufana