Eight tagged in the controversial flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro have been formally turned over to the Sandiganbayan 5th Division by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Monday, November 24.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed Monday morning that eight of the 16 accused are now in government custody. Seven suspects are under the PNP-CIDG’s custody, while one was apprehended by the NBI.
The seven in PNP-CIDG custody include:
-
Gerald Pacanan, DPWH-MIMAROPA Chief and regional official
-
Gene Ryan Altea
-
Ruben Santos
-
Dominic Serrano
-
Felisardo Casino
-
Juliet Calvo
-
Lerna Cayco, Accountant IV and BAC member
The individual arrested by the NBI:
- Engr. Dennis Abagon, OIC Chief of the Planning and Design Division and head of the Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division of DPWH Region 4B
Abagon was the first to appear before the anti-graft court following his arrest for multiple corruption-related cases connected to the flood control projects.
Meanwhile, the seven other individuals under PNP-CIDG custody have also arrived at the Sandiganbayan for their initial court proceedings.
The arrests follow the issuance of arrest warrants and hold departure orders by the anti-graft court last Friday against 16 DPWH officials and Sunwest Inc. officials linked to a P289.5 million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
According to preliminary preparations by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and DILG, the arrested individuals are expected to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail.
Eight of the 16 accused, including former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy and other officials, remain at large.
This development comes after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced last week that warrants of arrest had been issued against Co, including 17 DPWH officials, and Sunwest Corporation representatives, in connection with the flood control anomalies.
