Former Secretary Manuel Bonoan departed for the United States on Tuesday afternoon, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed, despite being subject to a standing Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO).

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Bonoan’s flight, which transited through Taiwan, was cleared after the Bureau coordinated with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

She confirmed that immigration officers at the airport encountered Bonoan and noted he was covered by the DOJ-issued ILBO. Such bulletins direct immigration personnel to alert the issuing agency when the subject attempts to leave the country.

"Upon encounter, immigration officers immediately coordinated with the DOJ to verify if a hold departure order or warrant of arrest was in effect," Sandoval stated.

Sandoval said the DOJ confirmed that no active hold departure order or warrant of arrest was in place against the former official.

"The DOJ confirmed that none exists hence he was cleared to depart," Sandoval said.

An ILBO is a precautionary measure that allows the government to monitor the travel of individuals involved in official investigations or cases. Unlike a Hold Departure Order (HDO), which is issued by a court and explicitly bars a person from leaving the country, an ILBO does not automatically prevent departure if no other legal restrictions are in place.