Ombudsman says ex-DPWH chief Bonoan overstaying in US

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan is already overstaying in the United States.

Remulla said that if US authorities determine that Bonoan has exceeded the allowed period of stay, the former Cabinet official could be deported.

“He is in America and is already overstaying. So if the US Embassy or the US State Department determines that Bonoan is overstaying, they can already send him home or deport him,” Remulla said.

On Wednesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said there was still no update on Bonoan’s possible return to the country. Bonoan earlier said he traveled to the United States to accompany his wife for a medical procedure.

Bonoan resigned as DPWH secretary in August 2025 and was earlier placed under an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) issued by the Department of Justice. The Bureau of Immigration earlier said Bonoan had indicated December 17 as his intended return date.

In November, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure implicated Bonoan in an alleged P95-million anomaly involving a flood control project in Bulacan. The commission also recommended that he face an administrative case over a separate P72.4-million “ghost” riverbank project, also in the province.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman said another batch of criminal charges related to alleged irregularities in flood control projects will be filed before the Sandiganbayan on Friday.

“Tommorow, we are filing a case before the Sandiganbayan. This will go on and on,” Remulla said.

He declined to provide further details on the case.

“Tomorrow (16 January), there will be a case filing. Just wait for it,” he said.

“Evidence is our priority here. We are not going for probable cause. We want reasonable certainty of conviction,” the Ombudsman added.

Remulla also said the investigation involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is already underway, with updates expected next week.

“We’re deeply into the investigation of former Speaker Martin Romualdez, and he’ll get more news about it next week,” Remulla said.