Tovic Salvador

Article (news)

Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News

Marilyn Cahatol

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>2nd UPDATE</strong>) — A Department of Public Works and Highways engineer tagged in the anomalous flood control projects has been arrested, the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed Sunday morning. </p><p>The agency said the engineer, who is the subject of a <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/21/pnp-confirms-warrants-have-been-issued-for-ex-lawmaker-zaldy-co-17-others-1847">warrant of arrest</a> alongside others accused of involvement in the flood control mess, was found and arrested in Quezon City.</p><p>The NBI-Technical Intelligence Division operatives served a warrant of arrest on Engineer Dennis Abagon, Officer-in-Charge Chief of the Planning and Design Division of DPWH-Region 4B.</p><p>The operatives used a battering ram to breach the door of the house where Abagon was staying. </p><p>Abagon is the first to be arrested among those facing charges over the ₱289.5-million road dike project along the Mag-asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. </p><p>He is charged with malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.</p><p>At the NBI office in Pasay City, one of Abagon&#x27;s legal counsels, Atty. Raymond Tansip, said his client is in good condition. </p><p>&quot;He is okay. In fact the reason why I&#x27;m here, I was asked by some other lawyers to be here to check kumusta siya. Diabetic kasi &#x27;yong tao so he has to eat kaya dinalhan ko siya ng pagkain,&quot; said Atty. Tansip. </p><p>Abagon underwent a medical examination Sunday afternoon.</p><p>&quot;Siyempre, isu-surrender sa Sandiganbayan, &#x27;yong process magtutuloy-tuloy. Iche-check siya for medical at &#x27;yong records niya, fingerprinting and everything,&quot; Tansip added. </p><p>Also arrested were a man and a woman who were allegedly staying at the residence. </p><p>They may face obstruction of justice charges.</p><p>As of this writing, the NBI has not issued an official statement on the operation.</p><p>Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) clarified that police are still required to attempt serving the warrant of arrest at the accused&#x27;s last known address, following established protocols.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/23/sandiganbayan-junks-motion-of-dpwh-officials-to-stop-issuance-of-arrest-warrants-1608">READ: Sandiganbayan junks motion of DPWH officials to stop issuance of arrest warrants</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>QCPD LAUNCHES MANHUNT</strong></div><p>The Quezon City Police District said it had failed to serve the warrants of arrest for others on its first attempt to visit their registered addresses.</p><p>&quot;While operatives visited all registered addresses of the accused, none of the subjects were present during the attempts; hence, no warrant was deemed served,&quot; QCPD said in a statement.</p><p>QCPD said it immediately launched manhunt operations for those with registered addresses in its jurisdiction.</p><p>On Friday evening, QCPD, with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), attempted to serve the warrant against an accused identified as alias &quot;Ngo&quot; in Rolling Hills, New Manila. </p><p>Anthony Ngo, a member of Sunwest Corp.&#x27;s board of directors, is among those named in warrants issued by the Sandiganbayan.</p><p>Only the caretaker faced the police, who said Ngo no longer resides at the address and that his whereabouts are unknown, said QCPD.</p><p>Ngo&#x27;s family members also said they had no communication with him since the warrant was issued, QC police added.</p><p>The next day, the Kamuning Police Station visited locations linked to alias &quot;Cayco&quot; and &quot;Sacar&quot; in South Triangle.</p><p>Lerma Cayco, an accountant with DPWH&#x27;s MIMAROPA regional office, and Timojen Sacar, a materials engineer from the same office, are also named in the warrants.</p><p>Cayco&#x27;s relatives said he was on leave, while Sacar&#x27;s security personnel said his current location is unknown and he had vacated one residence since August.</p><p>QCPD said the Talipapa police also visited the last known address of alias &quot;Serrano,&quot; but the person was last seen two weeks before the warrant was issued. </p><p>Dominic Serrano, chief of DPWH MIMAROPA&#x27;s Construction Division, is also the subject of a Sandiganbayan warrant.</p><p>QCPD underscored that it continues to intensify its follow-up operations, district-wide manhunt efforts, coordination with national agencies and with the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) for a potential Red Notice.</p><p>It said it is also coordinating with the Department of Justice for the issuance of a Hold Departure Order and a recommendation to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for a monetary reward to expedite the arrest.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/22/-face-the-warrant-now-co-others-tagged-in-flood-control-mess-urged-to-surrender-1251">&#x27;Face the warrant now&#x27;: Co, others tagged in flood control mess urged to surrender</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>IMMIGRATION ON HEIGHTENED ALERT</strong></div><p>The Bureau of Immigration (BI), meanwhile, has placed all international airports and seaports nationwide on heightened alert. </p><p>According to the agency, the names of Zaldy Co and the 15 other accused have been included in its &quot;centralized derogatory database&quot; to ensure they are immediately flagged should they attempt to leave the country.</p><p>The BI also confirmed that four of the 16 individuals, including Co, are currently abroad.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oSIDrTImVq4?si=vUOx6SLQBH3ayIDv" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer tagged in the anomalous flood control projects has been arrested, the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed Sunday morning.</p>

A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer tagged in the anomalous flood control projects has been arrested, the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed Sunday morning.

NBI: DPWH engineer tagged in flood control mess arrested in QC

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NBI: DPWH engineer tagged in flood control mess arrested in QC

Marilyn Cahatol,

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 23, 2025 09:27 AM PHT

|

Updated Nov 23, 2025 05:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Quezon CIty Police District

flood control

warrant of arrest

Department of Public Works and Highways

DPWH

NBI

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