The nine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials from Region IV-B were in full attendance at the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday afternoon as they pleaded not guilty to malversation charges over their alleged involvement in the Oriental Mindoro flood control controversy.

The officials had previously entered the same plea in an earlier arraignment stemming from the alleged substandard road-dike project reportedly worth P289 million.

The nine DPWH personnel now in government custody are Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Lerma Cayco, Juliet Calvo, Felisardo Casuno, Dennis Abagon and Montrexis Tamayo. They are among 16 individuals charged in the case.

Following the arraignment, the court, chaired by Associate Justice Sarah Fernandez, ordered that the pre-trial for the malversation case will begin on 11 December. The hearings will run Monday through Thursday with morning and afternoon sessions and may extend into Friday if needed to maximize time.

Pre-trial takes place after the filing of the complaint or information and after defendants have been arraigned. During this stage, stipulations are determined and the witnesses who will be presented during trial are identified, with the goal of avoiding delays and streamlining the proceedings.

The malversation case filed against the officials is classified as non-bailable. Petitions for bail will only be accepted once the pre-trial phase has been completed.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier ordered the preventive suspension of the DPWH personnel involved for six months, effective 23 October. The suspension covers Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Felisardo Casuno, Timojen Sacar, Montrexis Tamayo, Juliet Calvo, Dennis Abagon, Lerma Cayco, Grace Lopez and Frierich Karl Camero.

"This stemmed from the administrative case that was instituted simultaneously with the criminal charge," Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said.