Remulla: Only one Revilla co-accused still at large in flood control case

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said only one of the six former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways charged alongside former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. remains at large.

Speaking at a press conference at PNP National Headquarters Camp Crame, Remulla said the ongoing manhunt is focused on “former DPWH Bulacan First DEO (District Engineering Office) Engr. Emelita Capistrano Juat.”

Remulla said authorities earlier arrested Christina Mae del Rosario Pineda, 38, a cashier of the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office, in Barangay Bangao, Buguias, Benguet early Tuesday. The arrest was carried out by operatives of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Mountain Province Provincial Field Unit, with assistance from the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Benguet Police Provincial Office.

Juat and Pineda, along with former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez; engineers Jaypee Mendoza and Arjay Domasig; and former finance section chief Juanito Mendoza, were charged with malversation of public funds, a non-bailable offense, in connection with the alleged P92.8 million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza were arrested by National Bureau of Investigation operatives at the Senate on Monday, while Domasig and Juanito Mendoza were also taken into custody by authorities.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division earlier issued warrants of arrest and hold departure orders against Revilla and six other respondents in the case.

The arrest warrant was signed by Associate Justice Karl Miranda. Revilla voluntarily surrendered to the PNP-CIDG at Camp Crame on Monday night.