Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan was transferred from a police medical facility to a private hospital following medical concerns over potential heart complications.
Bonoan is currently in custody facing plunder and graft charges tied to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), medical personnel detected elevated heart enzyme levels in Bonoan, a condition that points to cardiac stress and necessitates specialized diagnostic testing.
Police Colonel Allen Rae Co, acting chief of the PNP Public Information Office, explained that the PNP General Hospital—where Bonoan was first held—was not equipped to handle his ongoing medical needs.
“(Bonoan) was transferred in stable condition on the evening of June 2, 2026 to a private hospital for continued management and specialized care,” Co said.
The former cabinet official is facing two counts of graft and a plunder charge before the Sandiganbayan over the controversial flood control contracts. Senator Jinggoy Estrada is also named as a co-accused in the case.
While Bonoan successfully posted a ₱90,000 bail for one of the graft charges, the plunder charge allows no bail, which led to his formal surrender to authorities earlier this week.
Due to his hospitalization, scheduled court appearances have been delayed.
The arraignment for both Bonoan and Estrada on the graft charges has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 4.