Rowegie Abanto

The Department of Public Works and Highways building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<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/17853822007511785382198241.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Department of Public Works and Highways building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The defense of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Mimaropa Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Montrexis Tamayo on Wednesday argued that it would have been impractical for him to personally inspect every infrastructure project in the Mimaropa region.</p><p>During the trial of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co&#x27;s malversation case over the allegedly anomalous road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, Tamayo&#x27;s lawyer Cecilio Jimeno presented Engineer II Benjie Mendoza of the DPWH-Mimaropa Planning and Design Division.</p><p>Jimeno said the witness, who joined the regional office in August 2022, was presented to establish the functions of the division formerly headed by Tamayo, the number of projects implemented and monitored by DPWH-Mimaropa, and the time required to travel across the region for inspection. </p><p>The defense argued that Tamayo, whose office was based on East Avenue in Quezon City, could not reasonably be expected to personally inspect every project in the island provinces before every billing because of transportation constraints.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/23/sandiganbayan-grants-ex-dpwh-mimaropa-official-s-bid-to-undergo-heart-check-up-1210">Sandiganbayan grants ex-DPWH-Mimaropa official’s bid to undergo heart check-up</a></div><p>According to the defense, DPWH-Mimaropa implemented more than 200 projects from 2022 to 2025 and monitored more than 800 projects handled by district engineering offices.</p><p>The prosecution objected to questions regarding the travel time required to inspect projects, arguing that such testimony was irrelevant.</p><p>However, the defense maintained that the line of questioning was material to showing the practical limitations of Tamayo&#x27;s responsibilities.</p><p>According to the information filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, Tamayo is alleged to have signed the first billing certificate of inspection for the road dike project.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/30/jinggoy-seeks-bail-in-plunder-case-0835">Jinggoy seeks bail in plunder case</a></div><p>Meanwhile, the prosecution said it was willing to stipulate to the authenticity of a Dec. 22, 2025 certification from the Consular Office of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv which states that Tamayo voluntarily surrendered at the embassy last year. </p><p>Tamayo earlier claimed that he joined a Catholic pilgrimage in Egypt even before the warrant of arrest for his case came out.</p><p>Department of Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty earlier said voluntary surrender is a mitigating circumstance that could be considered by justices in imposing the penalty if the accused is convicted.</p><p>The court scheduled the continuation of the trial on Aug. 4.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><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/1DClptKlkCM?&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/AfzdJYW3bag?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><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/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The defense of former DPWH-Mimaropa Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Montrexis Tamayo on Wednesday argued that it would have been impractical for him to personally inspect every infrastructure project in the Mimaropa region.</p>

The defense of former DPWH-Mimaropa Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Montrexis Tamayo on Wednesday argued that it would have been impractical for him to personally inspect every infrastructure project in the Mimaropa region.

Ex-DPWH exec cites travel constraints in inspection duties in Zaldy Co malversation trial

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Ex-DPWH exec cites travel constraints in inspection duties in Zaldy Co malversation trial

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 30, 2026 11:51 AM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

Mimaropa

DPWH

Zaldy Co

Flood Control

Road Dike

Naujan

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