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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan can leave the country.
On Tuesday, November 11, the DOJ and the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that the former DPWH chief had departed to accompany his wife for a medical procedure.
He is expected to be abroad until December 17, according to DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez.
Despite being accused by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) of negligence for allegedly failing to prevent the plunder of public funds, Martinez explained that Bonoan does not need to seek permission from the DOJ because he does not have a “pending case.”
“Given that wala pong pending case, wala pong pending hold departure order arising from any pending case, hindi po namin mapipigilan pag-alis,” Martinez explained on Wednesday, November 12.
(Given that there is no pending case, and there is no pending hold departure order arising from any pending case, we cannot prevent [their] departure.)
He explained that Bonoan only has an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO), which directs immigration authorities to monitor individuals leaving the country, typically those who are subjects of ongoing investigations or legal cases.
It differs from a hold departure order, which is a court-issued directive preventing an individual from leaving the country.
In this case, Martinez explained that because Bonoan is not charged before a court, there is no reason to issue a hold departure order, as only the courts can issue such orders.
“The ILBO ensures that bawat galaw ninyo ay tracked, bawat galaw ninyo ay monitored, reported,” Martinez explained.
(The ILBO ensures that your every movement is tracked, your every movement is monitored, [and] reported.)
Probe to continue after departure. On Tuesday, ICI spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka said the commission will continue its investigation and has already referred its findings to the Office of the Ombudsman, regardless of Bonoan’s whereabouts.
Bonoan resigned shortly after the ICI report was released on November 6, accusing him of “inexcusable negligence tantamount to fraud” for allowing the alleged plunder of public funds. The report flagged several suspicious flood control projects, including a P95-million anomaly in Bulacan. — Ian Laqui
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Credit belongs to: www.philstar.com
