(FILE) Personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) escorted the eight DPWH officials linked to the Oriental Mindoro flood control anomaly during their arraignment before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division in Quezon City, where they entered a plea of not guilty to graft charges.
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Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) MIMAROPA allegedly involved in flood control irregularities in Oriental Mindoro appeared before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Thursday as hearings began on their petition for bail in a malversation case.
Before the end of last year, the accused — DPWH officials Juliet Calvo, Gerald Pacanan, Gene Altea, Ruben Delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Lerma Cayco, Felisardo Casuno, Dennis Abagon, and Montrexis Tamayo — entered pleas of not guilty to charges of malversation, as well as to separate graft charges pending before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.
During Thursday’s bail hearing, the prosecution presented Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chief Counsel RJ Bernal, who identified the articles of incorporation and general information sheets of Sunwest Inc. covering the period from 1997 to 2024.
Asked by reporters whether former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co remains connected to Sunwest Inc. — the firm linked to the P289.5-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro — Bernal said his role was limited to authenticating the documents.
“Identification lang ang authority ko so kung ano ‘yung nakalagay doon sa documents submitted to the office of the special prosecution–the documents speak for itself,” Bernal said.
The court ordered the marking of the SEC documents as exhibits after the defense declined to comment on or cross-examine the records.
The case marks the first to reach trial following the Office of the Ombudsman’s November filing of charges related to alleged flood control corruption nationwide.
In November 2025, the anti-graft court issued warrants of arrest against the DPWH officials and Sunwest Inc., including Co, who remains at large.
The bail hearing will resume on Monday, 12 June, with the prosecution expected to present a human resources officer from the DPWH Central Office. On 13 January, DPWH MIMAROPA regional director officer-in-charge Editha Barba is scheduled to testify.
A representative from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure is expected to appear on 14 January, followed by a representative of the Land Bank of the Philippines — EDSA NIA branch — on 15 January.
The prosecution has also submitted a supplemental pre-trial order seeking to present former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara, and Vince Dizon as witnesses. The matter has been submitted for court resolution.
