Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who is under an immigration lookout order in connection with the flood control scandal, has yet to return to the Philippines after leaving for the United States in November, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval confirmed that as of Thursday, Bonoan had not passed through any Philippine immigration counter despite indicating December 17 as his return date.
“Records show that he has not returned to the Philippines to date, despite indicating December 17, 2025 as his return date in his letter, submitted through counsel on Nov. 10, 2025,” Sandoval said in an advisory.
Bonoan left the country on November 11 while under an immigration lookout order issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ), reportedly to accompany his wife for a medical procedure in the United States. The DOJ clarified that no hold departure order had been issued against him, allowing him to travel abroad.
Bonoan resigned as public works chief amid investigations into an alleged corruption scheme involving “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan.
The Independent Commission (ICI) for Infrastructure has since asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file charges of grave misconduct, plunder, and graft against him after finding him liable for two alleged “ghost” projects in the province.