A barangay official took the witness stand on Thursday, recounting his observations of the Mindoro road dike project during the bail hearing of nine officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways-Mimaropa who are co-accused of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co in a malversation case.

Nestor Asi, barangay chairman of Tagumpay in Naujan, testified before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, describing the condition of the project during several visits to the construction site located within his village.

Asi told the anti-graft court that he personally observed only three meters of the six-meter steel sheet piles being driven into the ground, while the remaining portion was cut off.

Earlier inspections by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor found that the steel sheet piles installed at the site measured only 2.5 to 3 meters, far short of the 12 meters required under the project’s Detailed Engineering Design.

Asi said he determined the measurements based on his own calculations and noted his previous experience as a construction laborer.

Responding to questions from the defense panel, Asi said he visited the construction site even though the project was not a barangay initiative. He added that barangay officials monitored the site about three times a week due to persistent flooding concerns in the area.

He also told the court that portions of the project undertaken by Sunwest Inc. were damaged in 2024 and again in December 2025, when water entered a gap in the structure and flowed toward a neighboring barangay.

Meanwhile, Abraham Panaligan, a construction and maintenance officer from the Naujan Municipal Engineering Office, also took the witness stand to affirm the contents of his judicial affidavit.

A Commission on Audit technical auditor is scheduled to testify during the bail hearing on 3 February, while the provincial governor is expected to take the stand on 4 February, followed by COA auditor Victoriano Acosta on 5 February.

Earlier, DPWH-Mimaropa officials Gerald Pacanan, Gene Altea, Ruben Delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Lerma Cayco, Felisardo Casuno, Dennis Abagon, Juliet Calvo and Montrexis Tamayo pleaded not guilty to malversation and graft charges before the anti-graft court. Co and several other accused remain at large.