DOJ assures gov't can monitor ex-DPWH chief Bonoan's movements abroad

The Department of Justice (DOJ) assured Wednesday that it can monitor the movements of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan abroad as he remains under investigation over alleged anomalous flood control projects.

This came after Bonoan left the country on Tuesday afternoon to accompany his wife in the United States for a medical procedure. His overseas travel, the DOJ earlier said, was reported to last until December 17.

"Being under the Immigration Lookout Bulletin [Order] (ILBO), this means that there is real-time monitoring and reporting of all his movements," Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said.

Martinez was asked if the government can still monitor Bonoan's movement if he chooses to go to another country instead of returning to the Philippines.

"So bantay po ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan at ng gobyerno ang bawat galaw ni Mr. Bonoan. So kunwari, galing po ng Estados Unidos, lumipat ng ibang bansa or may movement siya within the United States… tatatakan po 'yung passport niya… at dahil po doon may real-time monitoring," he added. 

(So the DOJ and the government are monitoring Mr. Bonoan's every move. For instance, if he comes from the United States, transfers to another country, or makes any movement within the United States… his passport will be stamped… and because of that, there will be real-time monitoring.)

Martinez, meanwhile, reiterated that a hold departure order (HDO) has yet to be issued against Bonoan as there is no pending case against him before Philippine courts.

An HDO prevents an individual from leaving the country.

"Former Secretary Bonoan did advise the DOJ, but the DOJ, considering na wala pong legal impediment to his departure, could not prevent him from leaving," he said.

"Given that wala pong pending case, wala pong pending HDO arising from any pending case, hindi po namin mapipigilan ang pag-alis. Not just po of former Secretary Bonoan but any individual for that matter," he added.

(Given that there is no pending case, no pending hold departure order arising from any pending case, we cannot prevent the departure. Not just of former Secretary Bonoan but any individual for that matter.)

— VDV, GMA Integrated News