Amid the ongoing investigations into the flood control corruption scandal.
On Sunday, January 18, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan has returned to thr country.
He reportedly arrived to the country aboard China Airlines flight CI0701 from Taipei, which landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday morning.
The immigration bureau further reported that Bonoan had no companions upon his return, even though records indicate that he left the country late 2025 to accompany his wife to the United States for a medical procedure.
Within that span, the ex-Public Works chief was placed in BI’s Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) list, which is the a result of a directive from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The said notice was to monitor his travels outside the country in relation to the still-ongoing investigation into alleged anomalous flood control projects.
In its statement, the BI reiterated, “the issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin is intended to ensure that authorities are promptly informed of the arrival or departure of persons of interest in ongoing investigations.“
Following his arrival, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said his team have relayed the information promptly to the Secretary of Justice, following current procedures.
Bonoan’s return also comes days after Senator Panfilo Lacson alleged that files he submitted led to incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects nationwide.
Furthermore, the Malacañan Palace told that they are verifying the report and told the former secretary to instead come home to face the fresh allegations.