Arraignment of Estrada, Bonoan postponed

DAY IN COURT Sen. Jinggoy Estrada with his hands covered to conceal handcuffs and wearing a standard detainee shirt, arrives at the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday for his arraignment over his graft case related to the flood control scandal. His coaccused, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, arrived in a wheelchair as his medical condition was being monitored. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division on Tuesday postponed the arraignment of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to June 4.

In the case of Bonoan, who arrived in a wheelchair, his arraignment was postponed after he again showed signs of hypertension. On Monday night, he was taken to the Philippine National Police-General Hospital (PNP-GH) after his surrender to authorities after his blood pressure rose to a critical 192/100.

Estrada, 63, and Bonoan, 80, are accused of graft before the Second Division and of plunder, a nonbailable offense, before the Fifth Division. Three other former chief engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are also accused together with Estrada and Bonoan before the Fifth Division. The charges are all in connection with the flood control scandal which has also implicated several other officials.

Appearing in the yellow Bureau of Jail Management and Penology shirt worn by inmates, Estrada had earlier manifested that he was ready for his arraignment and pretrial. But later he withdrew that manifestation after consulting with his counsel, Noel Ostrea, who filed a motion to cancel the arraignment as he cited his client’s prior commitments as senator.

Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg of the Second Division, however, said “there was no necessity for the cancellation” as she noted the attendance of Estrada and his counsel.

Ostrea then cited an earlier omnibus motion that he filed—including a motion to quash or a formal request for the court to dismiss the criminal complaint—which he said prosecutors had not yet received and therefore they were unable to respond accordingly.

Econg eventually said, “The court decided to reset the arraignment scheduled today to June 4.”

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan is assisted in a wheelchair provided by court personnel upon his arrival at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Bonoan, who was previously reported to be hospitalized for hypertension, appeared at the anti-graft court amid ongoing legal proceedings. —INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Back to hospital

Meanwhile, Bonoan was brought to the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division for his arraignment after he was found in stable condition and discharged at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday .

But he was brought back to PNP-GH around 4 p.m. after his blood pressure rose again.

Col. Allen Rae Co, PNP public information chief, confirmed in a text message that Bonoan was properly endorsed to the male medical ward for medical monitoring.

“The blood pressure reading recorded during assessment was approximately 170/100, as relayed by attending medical personnel in coordination with the court’s medical doctor,” Co said.

Bonoan was first taken to PNP-GH on Monday after he showed signs of hypertension.

After being given a clonidine hydrochloride tablet, an emergency medication for hypertension, his blood pressure dropped to 170/100, 150/90, 130/70, then 120/70, PNP-GH chief Col. Cleto Manongas said in an update on Tuesday.

According to Manongas, Bonoan was able to sleep on Monday night. He was also visited by a relative.

Bonoan’s lawyer, Edward Ong, also said his client could not be arraigned due to his medical condition. He added that he would file a motion to quash before the arraignment proceeds.

The Second Division had ordered the arrest of Estrada and Bonoan on May 29, but they both posted bail of P90,000 each since graft is a bailable offense.

The three other coaccused in the plunder case—Manny Bulusan, Denryl Caesar Cortuna and Arturo Gonzales Jr.—are scheduled to be arraigned before the Fifth Division, together with Estrada and Bonoan, on June 4.

‘High-profile fugitives’

Meanwhile, Malacañang defended the implementation of the arrest warrant against Estrada, saying law enforcement authorities merely carried out their duty.

“There’s no need for the senators to obstruct the service of a valid warrant of arrest against their colleague,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Tuesday. “It would be better for them to cooperate with law enforcers. That is the proper process and that is how respect is shown to every institution.”

For his part, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Estrada’s “smooth” arrest was in “stark contrast to other high-profile fugitives who chose to evade authorities and hide from the law instead of facing the judicial system.”

“By prioritizing professionalism and the rule of law, we achieved a smooth process that benefited both sides, completely avoiding unnecessary confrontation while fully upholding the dignity of our legal system,” Nartatez said in a statement on Tuesday.

Nartatez further said the PNP would continue to locate all wanted individuals.

Among the high-profile individuals in hiding that the PNP has yet to arrest are former police officer Rafael Dumlao, who is wanted over the 2016 killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo; former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag, who is wanted over the 2022 killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid; resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, who is wanted over graft and malversation cases in connection with the flood control scandal; gambling tycoon Atong Ang, who is wanted over kidnapping charges in connection with the reported kidnapping and murder of at least 34 cockfighting aficionados (“sabungeros”); and former PNP chief and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over his key role in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. —WITH A REPORT FROM DEXTER CABALZA

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