Bonoan attends probe of plunder complaint related to flood control project

Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan appeared before the Department of Justice on Monday to attend the preliminary investigation of the plunder complaint filed against him and several others in connection with an anomalous flood control project.

“Yes, of course,” Bonoan told reporters in a chance interview when asked if he planned to stay in the country.

When asked if he had plans to visit his wife, who is getting medical treatment abroad, Bonoan said he is still waiting for her schedule for the operation.

To recall, Bonoan left for the United States via Taiwan in November 2025 to allegedly accompany his wife, who will undergo a medical procedure.

He returned to the Philippines on January 18. He has previously denied receiving over P2 billion in kickbacks from government projects. 

Bonoan said he still has to study the complaint.

“I will try to look into all the allegations na binabato (that are being thrown). Definitely, sasagot naman tayo (we will answer),” he said.

Other respondents in the plunder complaint include 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.

According to Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez, the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order against Bonoan remained effective, but this will not prevent him from leaving the country.

“‘Yung pag ask nila ng permission, pag bigay nila ng notice sa DOJ, is an indication of good faith. But in the grand scheme of things, legally, ‘yung DOJ is in no position to say kung sino ang pwede umalis,” he said.

(Their asking for permission and notifying the DOJ is an indication of good faith. But in the grand scheme of things, the DOJ is legally in no position on who can leave.)

“Again, may constitutional right to travel pa po kasi sila habang hindi pa sila akusado sa isang kaso filed in court,” he added.

(Again, they have a constitutional right to travel as long as they are not yet an accused in a court case.)

Martinez said the DOJ also conducted a preliminary probe on the plunder complaint filed against former Senator Bong Revilla and others.

“Hindi po dumating si Senator Jinggoy at Senator Bong Revilla because this was for the receipt of the complaints and the documents filed by the NBI. This was done through their counsel,” he said.

(Senator Jinggoy and Senator Bong Revilla did not arrive because this was for the receipt of the complaints and the documents filed by the NBI. This was done through their counsel.)

Meanwhile, Martinez said the NBI requested an extension to submit additional documents or evidence to support their complaint.

The next preliminary hearings will be on February 12. –NB, GMA Integrated News