The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan has departed the Philippines for the United States via Taiwan on Tuesday afternoon.
Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval clarified that Bonoan is covered by an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ), but emphasized that the ILBO only allows monitoring of travel activities and is not equivalent to a hold departure order, which would have barred him from leaving.
The DOJ confirmed that no hold departure order or warrant of arrest exists against Bonoan, allowing him to travel abroad legally.
Bonoan’s departure comes as he faces scrutiny over alleged anomalies in flood control projects under his term as DPWH chief.
The Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) recently flagged several “ghost” projects, including a P95-million flood control project in Bocaue, Bulacan, and a P72.3-million riverbank protection project in Plaridel, Bulacan, which were found to be either non-existent or improperly implemented.
ICI reports accused Bonoan of “inexcusable negligence tantamount to fraud” for failing to prevent the misuse of public funds, noting that the plunder of infrastructure funds happened under his watch.
The commission has recommended administrative and criminal charges against Bonoan and other DPWH officials, including violations of the Code of Conduct and possible graft and malversation cases.
Bonoan resigned from his post in September 2025 amid mounting pressure from the investigations, though he has denied direct involvement in corruption, insisting that he only held “command responsibility”.