Jamaine Punzalan

The Sandiganbayan building in Quezon City on February 19, 2020 Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division affirmed the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/10/9-dpwh-mimaropa-officials-in-flood-control-mess-denied-bail-1707">denial of bail</a> for former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Mimaropa, who were facing malversation charges alongside former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co over an allegedly anomalous road dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>In a resolution promulgated on Tuesday, the anti-graft court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by accused former Regional Director Gerald Pacanan, Assistant Regional Directors Gene Altea and Ruben Delos Santos Jr., Construction Division Chief Dominic Serrano, Maintenance Division Chief Juliet Calvo, Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division OIC-Chief Dennis Abagon, Planning and Design Division OIC-Chief Montrexis Tamayo, Project Engineer III Felisardo Casuno, and Accountant Lerma Cayco.</p><p>In their appeals, Santos, Casuno, and Pacanan claimed that their signatures on the disbursement vouchers and the project’s inspection reports were merely “routine” and part of their official duties.</p><p>Casuno argued that he had only signed the inspection reports after a visual verification of the visible portions of the steel sheet piles (SSPs) embedded on site. Previous inspections of the project found that an average of three meters of SSPs were installed, short of the 12 meters required under the project’s Detailed Engineering Design.</p><p>&quot;The mere signing of documents in the course of transit through standard operating procedure does not automatically make one a conspirator in a crime,” his motion read.</p><p>“Sunwest, Inc. conducted the pile driving works at night to conceal the fact that three-meter SSPs were being used. This negates the prosecution&#x27;s theory that he conspired with former Rep. Zaldy Co and the accused Sunwest, Inc. officials,&quot; it added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/14/dpwh-mimaropa-execs-challenge-alleged-mindoro-dike-defects-in-bail-hearing-1600">DPWH-Mimaropa execs challenge alleged Mindoro dike &#x27;defects&#x27; in bail hearing</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Santos argued that the amount involved in the progress billings he handled fell below the P8.8 million threshold that would warrant reclusion perpetua and entitle him to bail as a “matter of right.”</p><p>However, the Sandiganbayan said the accused did not merely &quot;process&quot; documents but certified and approved the release of public funds.</p><p>The resolution noted that the failure to monitor the driving of the SSPs was &quot;inexcusable&quot; given the scale of the project.</p><p>The court also dismissed the defense’s argument that the project is still ongoing and can be rectified.</p><p>&quot;That there is a possibility of subsequent rectification does not excuse the failure of the responsible officials to ensure compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements at the time the questioned acts were undertaken,” the resolution penned by Associate Sarah Jane Fernandez read.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/roberto-bernardo-to-testify-in-malversation-trial-of-dpwh-mimaropa-officials-0858">Bernardo testifies he got annual P10-million ‘balato’ from Zaldy Co via ex-DPWH-Mimaropa chief</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Calvo&#x27;s lawyer argued that their participation was limited to &quot;noting&quot; documents, which indicates cognizance rather than approval. </p><p>Cayco also sought bail on humanitarian grounds, citing advanced age and frail health.</p><p>The court said the motions merely repeated defenses it had already considered and found without merit in its March 10 resolution.</p><p>On April 7, an Anti-Money Laundering Council representative is scheduled to take the witness stand as trial continues.</p><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/fzg672k6PKQ?&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/eDxi6Eca7pk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division affirmed the denial of bail for former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Mimaropa, who were facing malversation charges alongside former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co over an allegedly anomalous road dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.</p>

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division affirmed the denial of bail for former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Mimaropa, who were facing malversation charges alongside former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co over an allegedly anomalous road dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Sandiganbayan upholds denial of bail for DPWH-Mimaropa officials in flood control mess

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Sandiganbayan upholds denial of bail for DPWH-Mimaropa officials in flood control mess

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 01, 2026 02:31 PM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

Mimaropa

flood control

Zaldy Co

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