Eight of the 16 accused in the graft and malversation charges over the P289-million substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro appeared before the Sandiganbayan on Monday for booking and the issuance of their commitment orders.
A booking procedure involves taking the accused persons’ fingerprints, while a commitment order indicates where they will be detained pending the resolution of the criminal charges.
Those who appeared before the anti-graft court were:
- Gerald Pacanan, DPWH regional director
- Gene Ryan Altea, DPWH assistant regional director
- Ruben D.S. Santos, DPWH assistant regional director
- Dominic Serrano, DPWH construction division chief; Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairperson
- Juliet Calvo, DPWH maintenance division chief
- Dennis Abagon, DPWH OIC-chief, Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division; BAC regular member
- Felisardo Casuno, DPWH project engineer III
They appeared three days after the Sandiganbayan issued warrants of arrest and a hold departure order (HDO) against all respondents.
The following accused have yet to surrender:
- Former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, former House appropriations panel chairperson
- Montrexis Tamayo, DPWH OIC-chief, Planning and Design Division
- Lerma Cayco, DPWH accountant IV
- Timojen Sacar, DPWH materials engineer
- Aderman Alcazar, president and board chair, Sunwest Construction
- Cesar Buenaventura, treasurer and board member, Sunwest Construction
- Consuelo Aldon, board member, Sunwest Construction
- Engr. Noel Yap Cao, board member, Sunwest Construction
- Anthony Ngo, board member, Sunwest Construction
The criminal cases were filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on November 18—the first set of charges in connection with the flood control mess.—MCG, GMA Integrated News
