Eight of the accused in graft and malversation cases linked to the P289 million substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro appeared before the Sandiganbayan on Monday for booking and issuance of commitment orders.

Engineer Dennis Abagon of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), recently arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Sunday, was the first to appear.

The other accused followed, including Gerald Pacanan, Ruben Santos, Dominic Serrano, Juliet Calvo, Felisardo Casuno, and Lerma Cayco, all DPWH officials.

As part of the procedure, the accused gave fingerprints during booking. The commitment orders indicate where they will be detained pending resolution of the case. Male respondents were sent to Payatas City Jail, while female respondents were sent to Camp Karingal. Juliet Calvo posted P90,000 bail for her graft charge.

The accused appeared three days after the Sandiganbayan issued warrants of arrest and a hold departure order against all respondents. Former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co has yet to surrender.

The case was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on 18 November as the first batch of charges in connection with the controversial flood control projects. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged other accused officials to surrender.

“There’s no special treatment for these individuals. They will remain under the custody of the NBI while waiting for court orders,” Marcos said.

Despite the President’s statement, lawmakers have called for further investigation following allegations in a video by Zaldy Co, who linked the budget insertions to Marcos Jr. Gabriela Representative Sarah Elago said in Filipino:

“Right from the start when the serious allegations came out in the video that was released, we already called for an investigation into it. Not only that, but all insertions in the 2024 budget and past budgets should be investigated; this must be investigated.”