By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA — Former Public Works Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan testified before the Sandiganbayan that Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada Jr. had at least ₱7.4 billion in congressional initiatives in 2025, during the senator’s bail hearing on a plunder charge.
Bonoan, a state witness, also cited a separate ₱475-million initiative involving Estrada and a congressman.
Estrada’s lawyer, Laurence Arroyo, objected to the testimony on the initiatives, arguing that the amounts were irrelevant. The court, however, overruled the objection.
Bonoan explained that the Senate Leadership Fund was intended to discourage senators from interfering with the president’s budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
He said former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral had recommended a ₱500-million fund for Estrada, which was subsequently included in the department’s proposed budget.
Bonoan added that he possessed a list of projects under the senator’s leadership fund, although it bore neither acknowledgment receipts nor Estrada’s signature. He also alleged that part of the fund was intended for election-related expenses.
Estrada, who attended the proceedings through teleconference, denied the allegations, pointing out that he was not seeking reelection in the 2025 polls.
His defense team cited a letter from the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office stating that it had no legislative records or official documents showing that Estrada made insertions or amendments to the 2025 national budget concerning DPWH projects.
The defense stressed that the General Appropriations Act is a product of the constitutional legislative and executive process, not the work of any single lawmaker.
ia/xf
