Bonoan sought longer US stay amid flood control probe — envoy

2 months ago 44
Suniway Group of Companies Inc.

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

January 16, 2026 | 12:10pm

In this file photo dated Oct. 23, 2022, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan attends the Senate committee meeting on the proposed 2023 budget of DPWH and its attached corporation.

The Philippine STAR / Mong Pintolo

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said that former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan requested a one-month extension of his stay in the US.

In a DZBB interview on Friday, January 16, Romualdez said that Bonoan requested the extension due to his wife’s eye operation.

“Hanggang February 15 daw babalik siya diyan,” he said.

(He said he'll be back by February 15.)

On January 15, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida told reporters that Bonoan’s lawyer informed him that he had yet to return to the country on the day of his expected return.

This was due to complications from his wife’s medical procedure, according to Vida.

While Vida noted the information from the lawyer, he maintained that he still needs Bonoan’s exact return date.

Additionally, he is requesting the contact details of the relatives Bonoan is staying with, both in the United States and the Philippines.

RELATED: Here’s what’s keeping ex-DPWH chief Bonoan from returning

Bonoan, currently under an Immigration Lookout Bulletin due to suspected negligence in flood control projects, departed for the United States on November 11.

Traveling through Taiwan, Bonoan reportedly left to assist his wife with a medical procedure.

While his return was anticipated by Dec. 17, 2025, his departure occurred amidst an ongoing probe into alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Read Entire Article