Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Sandiganbayan building in Quezon City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- A state auditor testified before the Sandiganbayan on Thursday that an P84-million Notice of Disallowance was issued to the Department of Public Works and Highways-Mimaropa over undersized steel sheet piles installed in a P289-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.Victoriano Acosta, a state auditor of Commission on Audit (COA) Region IV-B, made the testimony during the bail hearing of nine former DPWH-Mimaropa officials charged with malversation alongside former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co.A Notice of Disallowance is issued by COA to flag government expenditures found to be irregular, unnecessary, excessive or illegal, and may require responsible officials to refund the amount.Earlier inspections of the project found that an average of three meters of steel sheet piles were installed, short of the 12 meters required under the project’s Detailed Engineering Design.The defense pointed out that the notice of disallowance was not final because the respondents still had six months to file an appeal.Acosta also identified several documents attached to his judicial affidavit, including a notice of suspension citing incomplete documentary requirements submitted by DPWH-Mimaropa and a certificate of inspection with statement of work accomplished, bearing the signatures of some of the accused.The defense argued that delays in submitting the requirements could be reasonable due to lack of manpower. However, Acosta said COA’s circular allows no exceptions to the five-day submission rule.LGU official testifies on Mindoro road dike observations in bail hearing of DPWH-Mimaropa execsMoreover, the counsel of former Assistant Regional Director Gene Altea argued that the certificate of inspection bearing his client’s signature contained a “with noted” remark and did not indicate he certified the inspection.In response, Acosta said that “with noted” carries the same meaning as “certified” in inspection certificates because signatories are considered certifying officers privy to the transactions.The defense also asked the court to exclude some attachments from the records, citing insufficient time to review the documents after receiving copies only a day before the hearing.The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Sarah Fernandez, denied the request and instead fined the prosecution P1,000 for the late submission of attachments to the witness’ judicial affidavit.The prosecution said it expects to conclude its presentation of witnesses next week, the last two being a DPWH-Mimaropa representative and a Landbank-Legazpi Branch official.Meanwhile, the preliminary conference on graft charges of the accused has resumed before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division. The defense and prosecution listed down witnesses and marked evidence to be used in upcoming proceedings.DPWH-Mimaropa officials Gerald Pacanan, Gene Altea, Ruben Delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Lerma Cayco, Felisardo Casuno, Dennis Abagon, Juliet Calvo and Montrexis Tamayo earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of malversation and graft before the anti-graft court’s two divisions.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/29/lgu-official-testifies-on-mindoro-road-dike-observations-in-bail-hearing-of-dpwh-mimaropa-execs-1328">LGU official testifies on Mindoro road dike observations in bail hearing of DPWH-Mimaropa execs</a></div>

Earlier inspections of the project found that an average of three meters of steel sheet piles were installed, short of the 12 meters required under the project’s Detailed Engineering Design.

Earlier inspections of the project found that an average of three meters of steel sheet piles were installed, short of the 12 meters required under the project’s Detailed Engineering Design.

P84-million ND issued to DPWH-Mimaropa says state auditor in bail hearing over Mindoro road dike

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P84-million ND issued to DPWH-Mimaropa says state auditor in bail hearing over Mindoro road dike

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 05, 2026 04:33 PM PHT

|

Updated Feb 05, 2026 05:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

MIMAROPA

Sunwest

Zaldy Co

DPWH

Mindoro

Road Dike

COA

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