Former Public Works Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan is currently under monitoring by the Department of Justice after departing for the United States. (Presidential Communications Office / Wikimedia Commons)
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure broadens its investigation to 80 projects as the former public works secretary departs to the United States.
MANILA — Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan quietly left the Philippines for the United States on November 11, even as government investigators expanded their inquiry into alleged ghost and substandard flood-control projects implemented under his watch.
According to the Bureau of Immigration, Bonoan boarded a flight via Taiwan from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, bound for the U.S. The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that there was no hold-departure order (HDO) or arrest warrant preventing his travel.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said Bonoan was cleared to leave to accompany his wife for a medical procedure and is expected to return by December 17, 2025.
A monitored departure amid widening scrutiny
Government officials said Bonoan’s trip was cleared under normal immigration rules because no legal order barred him from leaving. They confirmed that he is listed on an ILBO but faces no pending warrant or court directive. Immigration officers have been instructed to log his re-entry upon his expected return in mid-December.
The DOJ reiterated that the ILBO serves for monitoring purposes only, ensuring that authorities are notified if a person under watchlist status departs or re-enters the country.
At the same time, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is reviewing approximately 80 flood-control projects nationwide, including a ₱95-million project in Barangay Bambang, Bocaue, Bulacan, which state auditors earlier flagged as unimplemented despite full funding.
ICI expands probe, launches field inspections
The ICI confirmed that its latest investigation covers projects tied to contractors previously named in a presidential directive for deeper scrutiny.
“We’re just complying with our mandate. We recommend and refer to the Office of the Ombudsman and any other prosecutor or agency,” Hosaka said in a recent briefing.
He added that investigators are now conducting on-site inspections to verify whether projects listed as completed exist on the ground. “At least 15 referrals to the Ombudsman [are] ready to be filed in the next two to three weeks,” Hosaka told the Philippine News Agency.
The commission’s field teams will visit Bulacan, Cebu, and other flood-prone provinces to confirm project completion and determine whether funds were properly used.
From resignation to accountability
Bonoan resigned as DPWH secretary effective September 1, 2025, amid increasing scrutiny over flood-control spending and project anomalies. He had served in the Cabinet since mid-2022 following a long tenure as head of San Miguel Corporation’s infrastructure arm.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. later appointed Vince Dizon as acting DPWH secretary, instructing him to strengthen internal audits and cooperate fully with the ICI. Since Bonoan’s resignation, the department has recommended several engineers and contractors for administrative and criminal proceedings before the Ombudsman.
Billions in public-works projects under review
Auditors and ICI investigators are now examining dozens of high-value flood-mitigation projects across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Preliminary findings indicate overlapping contracts, falsified completion certificates, and drainage systems certified as complete despite lacking physical structures.
The ICI has already transmitted its latest referrals to the Ombudsman for evaluation. Should probable cause be found, prosecutors could request a hold-departure order and pursue cases before the Sandiganbayan.
Officials estimate that the potential value of disputed or unverified projects may reach several billion pesos once all documentation is reviewed.
What lies ahead for investigators
The next phase of the inquiry will test whether accountability extends beyond project engineers to senior officials. The Ombudsman is currently evaluating the ICI’s expanded reports, while the DOJ, DPWH, and Commission on Audit (COA) coordinate to preserve records and audit trails.
ICI inspection teams will continue site verification until year-end. The DOJ said Bonoan remains under ILBO monitoring during his travel abroad, and immigration authorities will record his re-entry upon return.
Lawmakers and anti-corruption advocates have urged transparency in the commission’s findings, saying public confidence in infrastructure programs depends on visible results. A Senate oversight committee member said the investigation must move quickly to ensure accountability and recover misused funds.
A quiet exit that keeps questions alive
Bonoan’s low-profile departure underscores a familiar challenge in Philippine governance: investigations that often move slower than departures. Hosaka said the commission will continue its work and submit additional referrals to the Ombudsman as evidence warrants.
Whether accountability reaches the top ranks of the DPWH or ends at the contractor level will depend on how swiftly investigators convert findings into formal cases. For now, the files remain open, the investigations continue, and Bonoan stays on the government’s watchlist.
