Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan has requested an extension of his stay in the United States, citing his wife’s upcoming medical procedure, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez confirmed.

In a radio interview on Friday, Romualdez clarified that Bonoan is not evading authorities and requested the extension until February 15, due to his wife’s eye operation.

“Nasa California siya ngayon…humingi siya ng permission kung pwede siya maiwan ng another month time [dahil] ‘yung kanyang misis na may problema sa mata ang kanyang operation will take place sometime middle of February,” Romualdez said.

“‘Hinihingi niya hanggang after February 15 daw babalik siya diyan [Pilipinas],’ he added.

Bonoan was initially expected to return to the Philippines on December 17, 2025. However, nearly a month later, he has yet to come back, coinciding with an ongoing investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

On January 15, Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had been informed of Bonoan’s delayed return.

The probe stems from a recommendation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in November 2025 to file criminal and administrative charges against Bonoan and several other DPWH officials, which involves a purported ₱72-million “ghost” flood control project in Bulacan.

Later the same month, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) also confirmed that Bonoan departed the Philippines with his wife on November 11, bound for the United States.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson accused Bonoan of deliberately submitting incorrect grid coordinates of flood control projects to Malacañang, allegedly to conceal irregularities in the so-called “ghost” projects.