Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Monday filed his counter-affidavit in response to the plunder complaint lodged against him, as proceedings continue before the Department of Justice (DoJ).

“We submitted a counter-affidavit,” Bonoan told reporters in an ambush interview after appearing at the DoJ.

The complaint also names several other high-profile officials as respondents, including Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, former DPWH undersecretaries Maria Catalina Cabral and Roberto Bernardo, former DPWH regional director Gerard Opulencia, and former district engineer Henry Alcantara.

Meantime, DoJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez also confirmed that respondent Bonoan has already submitted his counter-affidavit.

“Respondent Bonoan submitted his counter-affidavit,” he said, noting that the copies of the document were subsequently furnished to the complainant, as well as to the counsels of Opulencia and Alcantara.

He added that the submission of the remaining counter-affidavits is scheduled for 23 February, including that of Estrada.

According to Martinez, the plunder complaint is not limited to a single infrastructure project or specific locality. Instead, it involves allegations of ill-gotten wealth amounting to more than P50 million, allegedly amassed through a combination or series of transactions.

Bonoan has consistently denied the allegations, including claims that he received more than P2 billion in kickbacks from government projects.

Despite the ongoing preliminary investigation, Bonoan confirmed that he plans to return to the United States. “I already asked,” he said when asked about his travel plans. When pressed on whether the Justice Department granted permission, Bonoan nodded and replied, “Yeah.”

An Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order has been issued against the former DPWH chief, which allows authorities to monitor his movements but does not automatically prevent him from leaving the country.

Asked if Bonoan was permitted to leave the country by the DoJ, Martinez clarified that only the courts can impose travel restrictions on respondents.

“As mentioned before, the DoJ does not grant permission for respondents to travel. Nor does it have the capacity to do so. Travel by respondents can only be restricted by the courts,” he said.

Bonoan previously traveled to the United States via Taiwan in November 2025 to accompany his wife, who was scheduled to undergo a medical procedure. He returned to the Philippines on 18 January 2026.

During the last preliminary investigation hearing, he said he was still awaiting the schedule of his wife’s operation.