Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor inspects a flood control project in Barangay Tagumpay, Naujan, August 17, 2025. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

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Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17701845799771770184578015.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor inspects a flood control project in Barangay Tagumpay, Naujan, August 17, 2025. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA — Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor on Wednesday testified at the Sandiganbayan on his inspection of the P289-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, which he said fell short of the materials required in its project design.Dolor gave his testimony at the bail hearing of nine Department of Public Works and Highways-Mimaropa officials charged with malversation. They were charged along with former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who remains at large.Dolor testified before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division that multiple inspections conducted from August to September 2025 found the steel sheet piles installed in the project averaged only 3 meters in length, much shorter than the 12 meters required under the contract’s Detailed Engineering Design.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/2/no-interpol-red-notice-yet-vs-zaldy-co-nbi-continues-search-1550">No Interpol red notice yet vs Zaldy Co; NBI continues search </a></div>The prosecution presented videos from Dolor’s Aug. 16, 2025 inspection that allegedly showed damage to the stone revetment of a portion of the road dike, which the governor said prompted him to request a copy of the program of work. In the footage, Dolor compared the dike’s cement to “panocha”, a snack made from raw sugar and peanuts.The defense questioned the relevance of the videos, arguing Dolor did not yet have a copy of the program of work during the first inspection and could not have known which section of the dike was covered by which contract.Dolor acknowledged that he received an official copy of the program of work only in September 2025 but said he had known as early as 2023 from community reports that the steel sheet piles fell short of contract requirements.The governor added that even if he could not identify the specific contract when the video was taken, the section he inspected was still among the projects in Barangay Tagumpay handled by Sunwest Inc., the contracting firm that Co founded.&quot;It’s part of the stretch, hindi lang specific kung ano ang contract ID number but it’s part of the P1.4 billion project covering 2.84 kilometers. [Of the] seven contracts with only one contractor.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/15/dpwh-execs-cast-doubt-on-inspection-that-found-defects-in-mindoro-road-dike-1623">DPWH execs cast doubt on inspection that found defects in Mindoro road dike </a></div>Asked by Associate Justice Lord Villanueva how the portions of the project for inspection were selected, Dolor said he instructed the local engineering office to excavate random sections.After the hearing, Dolor told reporters that giving his testimony was emotionally painful because an unnamed friend is among the accused.“Pero sabi ko nga sa inyo (But, as I told you), your loyalty to your friend ends where your care for your country begins,&quot; Dolor said.“Walang sugarcoating. Walang dagdag na kasinungalingan (No sugarcoating, no lies),” he added.On February 5, state auditor Victoriano Acosta is also expected to take the witness stand.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/3/coa-technical-auditor-testifies-mindoro-road-dike-did-not-meet-contract-requirements-1403">COA technical auditor testifies Mindoro road dike did not meet contract requirements </a></div>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.Aside from Co, several other accused, including representatives of Sunwest Inc., are still at large.

Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor on Wednesday testified at the Sandiganbayan on his inspection of the P289-million road dike project in Naujan, which he said fell short of the materials required in its project design.

Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor on Wednesday testified at the Sandiganbayan on his inspection of the P289-million road dike project in Naujan, which he said fell short of the materials required in its project design.

Oriental Mindoro gov testifies on P289-M road dike project in Naujan

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Oriental Mindoro gov testifies on P289-M road dike project in Naujan

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 04, 2026 02:01 PM PHT

|

Updated February 05, 2026 09:41 AM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

Humerlito Dolor

Bonz Dolor

Flood control projects

Naujan

Oriental Mindoro

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