MANILA, Philippines — Nine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials linked to an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro pleaded not guilty to their malversation charge before the Sandiganbayan.
The following DPWH- Mimaropa officials, currently under government custody, entered their plea as the charges were read to them during their arraignment before the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division on Tuesday:
- Dennis Pelo Abagon, OIC-chief, DPWH 4B Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division; regular member, Bidding and Awards Committee (now OIC-chief, Planning and Design Division)
- Gerald A. Pacanan, Department of Public Works and Highways Mimaropa (DPWH 4B) regional director
- Gene Ryan Alurin Altea, assistant regional director (now director of DPWH Bureau of Maintenance)
- Ruben delos Santos Santos Jr., assistant regional director
- Dominic Gregorio Serrano, chief, DPWH 4B Construction Division
- Felisardo Sevare Casuno, project engineer III
- Lerma Dotado Cayco, DPWH 4B Bidding and Awards Committee Account IV
- Engr. Montrexis Tamayo, DPWH 4B Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge
- Juliet Calvo, DPWH 4B maintenance division head
The nine — along with former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and others, who remain at large — were accused of violating Article 217 and Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code (malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents).
Based on the re-amended information lodged before the Sandiganbayan, the prosecution accused several DPWH-Mimaropa officials and private individuals linked to a construction firm of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.
The information claimed that, between March 2024 and June 2025, the accused conspired to divert more than P215 million in DPWH funds for a road dike project in Oriental Mindoro by falsifying disbursement documents, including at least one disbursement voucher that allowed government money to be illegally released to the contractor.
They are also accused of violating Republic Act No. 3019 (the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), but all nine likewise pleaded not guilty before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division. /gsg