Ched Rick Gatchalian

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DPWH MIMAROPA execs camp questions Dizon’s inspection of Mindoro road dike

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Lawyers for Department of Public Works and Highways MIMAROPA officials — co-accused of former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co in a malversation case — questioned the inspection ordered by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on the P289.5-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro that led to their indictment.</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>During the bail hearing at the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Thursday, defense lawyers challenged the credibility and procedure of the inspection that Dizon ordered and that Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor and DPWH-MIMAROPA OIC Regional Director Editha Babaran conducted in September 2025.</p><p>They also cast doubt on a separate validation inspection conducted last December.</p><p>The inspection earlier found that the project’s steel sheet piles measured only 2.5 to 3 meters, shorter than the 12 meters required under the contract’s Detailed Engineering Design.</p><p>Defense lawyers pointed out in previous hearings that contractor Sunwest Inc. could still correct the shortage under its warranty bond.</p><p>They said the project had not yet been turned over to the government and alleged the company had not been “officially” notified of alleged defects.</p><p>Atty. Edmund Espina, counsel for DPWH MIMAROPA accountant Lerma Cayco said Babaran had not informed Sunwest Inc. of the inspection or its findings.</p><p>Babaran, who again testified in court, said she instructed accused project engineer Felisardo Casuno via phone call to send a Sunwest Inc. representative for the inspection.</p><p>She added that the company representative was present during the site visit.</p><p>However, Espina said an oral invitation did not constitute official notice and questioned Babaran on how she confirmed the man was from Sunwest Inc.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/13/sarah-discaya-arraignment-0953">Sarah Discaya pleads &#x27;not guilty&#x27; to graft, malversation in &#x27;ghost project&#x27; case</a></div><p>For her part, Babaran said the man personally introduced himself as a Sunwest representative and signed a document containing the inspection’s reported findings, which her staff also witnessed.</p><p>She added that the representative got a snapshot of the findings report.</p><p>Espina then pointed out that the representative’s voluntary appearance at the inspection could indicate the contractor’s willingness to address and repair alleged defects.</p><p>Babaran earlier said contractors are responsible for correcting defects before a project is completed and officially taken over by the government, but she noted that construction and repair activities were halted after Dizon ordered a suspension of flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>Babaran replaced accused Gerald Pacanan, who was relieved of his post as regional director amid allegations related to the road dike project.</p><p>On January 19, an Independent Commission for Infrastructure representative is expected to take the witness stand.</p><p>Dizon is scheduled to testify on January 20, followed by a representative from the Municipal Engineering Office of Naujan on January 21.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/12/dizon-to-testify-in-flood-control-cases-vs-zaldy-co-0917">Dizon to testify in Sandiganbayan trial of Zaldy Co’s case</a></div><p>A Land Bank of the Philippines EDSA-NIA branch representative will appear before the anti-graft court on January 22.</p><p>DPWH MIMAROPA officials Gerald Pacanan, Gene Altea, Ruben Delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Lerma Cayco, Felisardo Casuno, Dennis Abagon, Montrexis Tamayo, and Juliet Calvo earlier pleaded not guilty to malversation and graft charges.</p><p>Co and several of his co-accused remain at large since the anti-graft court in November 2025 issued arrest warrants and hold departure orders against him, 15 other DPWH officials, and Sunwest Inc. representatives over alleged irregularities in the Mindoro road dike project.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</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/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The camp of DPWH MIMAROPA executives, who are co-accused of former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co in a malversation case, questioned the inspection ordered by Public Works Sec. Vince Dizon on the P289.5 million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.</p>

The camp of DPWH MIMAROPA executives, who are co-accused of former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co in a malversation case, questioned the inspection ordered by Public Works Sec. Vince Dizon on the P289.5 million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

DPWH execs cast doubt on inspection that found defects in Mindoro road dike

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DPWH execs cast doubt on inspection that found defects in Mindoro road dike

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 15, 2026 04:23 PM PHT

Read More:

DPWH MIMAROPA

Zaldy Co

Vince Dizon

Flood control

Corruption

Court

Trial

Sandiganbayan

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