As Leviste to skip Blue Ribbon hearing today amid ‘death threats’
Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan made a surprise return to the country yesterday, about a month ahead of schedule, and will attend today’s hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.
In a statement, the Bureau of Immigration said Bonoan arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 3 in Pasay City on Sunday morning aboard China Airlines flight CI0701 from Taipei, a connecting flight from his origin in the United States.
Bonoan left for the US on November 11, 2025 to accompany his wife Yolanda for a medical procedure. He had earlier requested for an extension of his stay in the US until February 12.
Meanwhile, the Bilyonaryo News Channel reported that Bonoan’s representatives confirmed his attendance in today’s Blue Ribbon Committee hearing into the flood control projects corruption issue.
The ex-secretary, who resigned from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) effective September 1, 2025, arrived without any reported travel companion, the BI said.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau has already relayed Bonoan’s arrival details to Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, in accordance with standard operating procedures.
One month before he resigned in August, Bonoan said in a video posted on DPWH’s Facebook page that leaving the country or avoiding responsibility was not the right way to find a solution to corruption in the government.
Bonoan added that he would “accept accountability,” but reminded the public that he would not tolerate any kind of corruption happening in the department. In later interviews, he denied involvement in the scams, saying his track record at the DPWH speaks for itself.
Last week, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the former Cabinet official was already overstaying in the US and could be deported.
Remulla noted that it would be best for Bonoan to return to the country on his own accord.
In another development, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, who was initially slated to appear before the same Senate panel, has begged off, citing threats to his life owing to his possession of the so-called Cabral files.
In a press conference Friday, Leviste said if anything were to happen to him, the full truth behind the alleged issues involving the DPWH — of which the late Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, after whom the files were named, was reportedly deeply involved — would come out.
Leviste said what has so far surfaced in the media on the flood control scam is only the “tip of the iceberg,” and the public would understand why he has become a target of various personalities once he releases the files he holds.
Cabral died last December 18 after falling down a 30-meter ravine along Kennon Road in Benguet province after she was implicated in the scandal by former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez also said last week that Bonoan was still in the States, but promised to return to Manila on February 15.
“We know where he is. He’s not hiding. He’s in California now and he asked for permission if he can stay for another month because his wife has eye problems,” Romualdez told radio dzBB.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro also said she could not speak for Bonoan when asked if the former DPWH chief made any commitment to President Marcos, because he earlier promised to come back to the Philippines last month.
Bonoan’s name surfaced again after Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the former DPWH chief allegedly submitted inaccurate data on flood control projects to confuse government inspections.
In December, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) earlier recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Bonoan and other former DPWH officials over a P95-million flood control project in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan returns to Philippines”
