DPWH officials face bail over Mindoro flood project

Officials from the DPWH MIMAROPA region allegedly involved in flood control irregularities in Oriental Mindoro faced the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Thursday as their bail hearing for malversation began.

Before the new year, the accused — including Juliet Calvo, Gerald Pacanan, Gene Altea, Ruben Delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Lerma Cayco, Felisardo Casuno, Dennis Abagon, and Montrexis Tamayo — plead not guilty to both malversation and graft charges, which are being handled by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.

During the hearing, the prosecution presented SEC Chief Counsel RJ Bernal, who authenticated the articles of incorporation and general information sheets of Sunwest Inc., spanning 1997 to 2024. Sunwest Inc. has been linked to the P289.5-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.

Asked by media if former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co is still connected to Sunwest, Bernal clarified, “My authority is only to identify them, so whatever is written in the documents submitted to the Office of the Special Prosecution — the documents speak for themselves.”

The court marked the SEC documents as exhibits after the defense declined to comment or cross-examine them.

This case is the first to reach the Sandiganbayan after the Office of the Ombudsman filed charges in November following its investigation into alleged flood control corruption. At that time, arrest warrants were issued against the DPWH officials and Sunwest Inc., including Zaldy Co, who remains at large.

The bail hearing is set to continue on Monday with a DPWH Central Office human resources officer expected to testify. On 13 January, DPWH MIMAROPA officer-in-charge Editha Barba will be presented.

Representatives from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the Land Bank of the Philippines (EDSA NIA) are slated to appear on 14 and 15 January, respectively.

Additionally, the prosecution submitted a supplemental pre-trial order to present former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, ex-DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara, and Secretary Vince Dizon as witnesses. The court will resolve these matters in due course.