DPWH engineer Ferdinand Vergara Jr. testifies before the Sandiganbayan on the P92.8-million Pandi, Bulacan flood control project, highlighting missing construction materials testing reports and alleged lapses in due diligence in the malversation case involving former senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and several DPWH officials. Photo courtesy of DPWH
NATION

DPWH engineer testifies in Revilla flood control case

Pola Coleen L. Bartolome

A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer testified on Wednesday, 20 May, regarding the P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan that is the subject of a malversation case involving former senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and six others.

During the hearing before the Sandiganbayan Third Division, DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO) Quality Assurance Section chief Ferdinand Vergara Jr. said the project documents were incomplete due to the absence of a construction materials testing report.

Vergara testified that the materials and project engineers should have attached the testing report before the project documents were signed for payment.

He added that the test results should have been reviewed by Engr. Emelita Juat, the materials engineer, and Engr. Arjay Dumasing, the project engineer for the Pandi flood control project, as well as the chief of construction.

Both engineers are reportedly among the co-accused in the malversation case involving Revilla. Vergara also emphasized that due diligence was lacking in the implementation of the flood control project.

Also named as co-accused in the case are former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez, former Finance Section chief Juanito Mendoza, former cashier Christiana Pineda, and former Assistant District Engineer Jaypee Mendoza.