Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767837086072Screen Shot 2026-01-08 at 9.50.35 AM_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division is set to hold a bail hearing Thursday for nine DPWH-MIMAROPA officials who are co-accused of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co on charges of malversation over an allegedly anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro. Kaxandra Salonga, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Thursday began bail hearings for nine Department of Public Works and Highways MIMAROPA officials who are co-accused of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co in a malversation case over alleged flood control irregularities in Oriental Mindoro.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/2/9th-dpwh-mimaropa-official-pleads-not-guilty-to-graft-over-flood-control-mess-0926">9th DPWH-Mimaropa official pleads not guilty to graft over flood control mess</a></div><p>Earlier, DPWH-Mimaropa officials Juliet Calvo, Gerald Pacanan, Gene Altea, Ruben Delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Lerma Cayco, Felisardo Casuno, Dennis Abagon, and Montrexis Tamayo all entered not guilty pleas for malversation, as well as graft charges in a separate Sandiganbayan division.</p><p>The anti-graft court in November 2025 issued arrest warrants and hold departure orders against Co and 15 other DPWH officials and Sunwest Inc. representatives charged in the P289.5 million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>Co and other individuals remain at large.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CO AND SUNWEST</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>During the bail hearing, the prosecution presented lawyer RJ Bernal, chief counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Company Registration and Monitoring Department, who identified the articles of incorporation and general information sheets of Sunwest Inc. from 1997 to 2024. </p><p>Bernal confirmed that the documents attached to his judicial affidavit were official SEC records.</p><p>When asked by reporters if Co is still connected to Sunwest Inc., Bernal said he was there solely to authenticate documents, and that “the documents speak for themselves.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/11/sandiganbayan-holds-pre-trial-for-graft-case-vs-9-dpwh-officials-in-flood-control-mess-1758">Sandiganbayan holds pre-trial for graft case vs 9 DPWH officials in flood control mess</a></div><p>The court directed the marking of the SEC documents as exhibits after the defense declined to give comment and cross-examine.</p><p>The bail hearing will resume on Jan. 12, when the prosecution is set to present a human resources officer from the DPWH central office.</p><p>DPWH MIMAROPA regional director OIC Editha Babaran is scheduled to be presented on Jan. 13.</p><p>Meanwhile, an Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) representative is expected to take the stand on Jan. 14, followed by a representative from Land Bank of the Philippines’ EDSA-NIA branch on Jan. 15.</p><p>The prosecution also submitted a supplemental pre-trial order to present former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo, ex-DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara, and DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon as witnesses. </p><p>The matter was filed to the court for resolution.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nCOSQOfNYfM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TKC-TWfoGvs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division is set to hold a bail hearing Thursday for nine DPWH-MIMAROPA officials who are co-accused of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co on charges of malversation over an allegedly anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.</p>

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division is set to hold a bail hearing Thursday for nine DPWH-MIMAROPA officials who are co-accused of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co on charges of malversation over an allegedly anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.

Sandiganbayan holds bail hearing on DPWH-Mimaropa execs tagged in flood control mess

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Sandiganbayan holds bail hearing on DPWH-Mimaropa execs tagged in flood control mess

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 08, 2026 09:54 AM PHT

|

Updated Jan 08, 2026 12:56 PM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

flood control

crime

malversation

Zaldy Co

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