By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and other whistleblowers are set to take the witness stand against Senator Jinggoy Estrada in the plunder case arising from an alleged flood control kickback scheme, as prosecutors prepare to present 21 witnesses at the senator’s upcoming bail hearing.
The Office of the Ombudsman has asked the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to discharge Bonoan as an accused and allow him to testify as a state witness. Estrada has opposed the move, arguing that it could limit his ability to defend himself.
21 WITNESSES TO TESTIFY
The prosecution will present 21 witnesses during the bail hearing scheduled from October 20 to November 12 to establish that the evidence of guilt against Estrada and his co-accused Department of Public Works and Highways officials is strong.
The witnesses include a Senate official, DPWH Central Office executives, human resource officers and an officer from the National Bureau of Investigation.
Estrada attended Wednesday’s pretrial proceedings through videoconference. The court directed him to sign the pretrial order, which identifies the witnesses and evidence to be presented, at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas.
Bonoan’s proposed testimony, alongside that of other whistleblowers, will form part of the prosecution’s case against the senator over the alleged flood control kickback scheme.
ia/xf
