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  • 3 months ago
The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) on Tuesday, June 30, said it accepted former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a state witness because his testimony is expected to strengthen its case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over alleged irregularities in the national budget.

READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/30/bonoan-accepted-as-state-witness-to-strengthen-case-vs-ex-speaker-romualdezombudsman

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00:00It's been a long time for the Ombudsman's House Speaker Martin Waldez.
00:05In fact, it's the first announcement of the plunder.
00:09Do you have any update here, sir?
00:12Do you have any movement in the build-up or file by Congress Ma'am Martin?
00:18Actually, that's what I really want to remind you.
00:23This whole rally today comes from the context that we are pinpointing or targeting certain people only.
00:38That's not true.
00:39Because the case of former Speaker Martin Waldez is getting stronger by the day.
00:44And the reason why we accepted si former Secretary Manny Bonoan as a state witness is precisely because
00:57yung kanyang intention to cooperate with us is for that case specifically.
01:03So, yung budgetary process po, yung budget po ng DPWH, yung budget ni former Secretary Manny Bonoan,
01:15yun po ang kinalikot na budget ng House leadership at that time.
01:21So, ang corruption po kasi, hindi mo yan pwedeng i-penetrate galing sa labas.
01:27Kailangan, meron ka talagang insider sa loob.
01:29It was a tough decision for the office to arrive at that, na i-accept namin si former Secretary Manny
01:36Bonoan as a state witness.
01:38Mahilap pong decision.
01:39And there was a lot of considerations that had to go into that decision.
01:45Isa na doon yung age, illnesses, and all of that.
01:49Kung na-convict si former Secretary Manny Bonoan for 40 years, sa tingin nyo po ba, he will last until
01:57120 years old sa loob ng gulungan?
02:00That was one consideration.
02:02Pangaloko, itong batas natin that will afford Del Woodsman plenary powers to afford immunity to somebody that is not meant
02:10to protect the guilty,
02:10but to reward the cooperation of somebody who knows a lot.
02:16Kaya ko namin ginamit yan.
02:18And between the two, you have somebody who was charged already with plunder, and you have another case which could
02:28change the history of the Philippines
02:30because we are trying to exact accountability on one of the biggest heists on our budget.
02:38We would rather go for the bigger case than have him rot in jail for how many years?
02:45Dahil meron talaga siyang naibubuga.
02:48Dahil he was in the room.
02:49Siya mismo ang nandun.
02:51Siya mismo ang kumakausap sa mga congressman.
02:53Siya mismo ang kumakausap sa mga cabinet secretary.
02:56And that is a unique position that he was in.
02:59And if he is willing to cooperate, we are willing to see also what he has to say
03:04para mapalakas po ang ating kaso laban kay former House Speaker Martin Amualdez.
03:11Sir?
03:11Bye-bye-bye thank you.
03:13Gracias again.
03:13Welcome our clients thank you, my friends and welcome.
03:17Our with us are
03:17I'm here to meet huge 1945 on the living that we have to maintain.
03:17The key thing has been drin.
03:17This is our former campus, our parking lot, and there's only
03:22anyone close news.
03:23This is where people have been Hopefully and allow to local community.
03:23We can see you at the same places where our MSP but we have the same.
03:23We'll go have some space and revoying it to the other nations.
03:24You
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