Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor testified before the Sandiganbayan that a ₱289.5-million flood control road dike in Barangay Tagumpay, Naujan, allegedly failed to follow the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) design and contract specifications, resulting in what he described as substandard construction.

Appearing as a prosecution witness before the court’s 6th Division during hearings on the bail petitions of detained DPWH-MIMAROPA officials, Dolor said the contractor, Sunwest Corporation, did not install the required steel sheet piles indicated in the project’s detailed engineering design.

Dolor told the court that instead of the mandated 12-meter sheet piles, only about 3-meter piles were reportedly used. He said the discrepancy became visible after flooding struck the area, exposing the sheet piles and raising concerns about the structure’s integrity and effectiveness as a flood control measure.

The governor’s testimony echoed earlier statements from prosecution witnesses, including Commission on Audit (COA) technical auditor Engr. Raymundo Manalo and Barangay Tagumpay Chairman Nestor Alegria Asi, who both flagged irregularities in the project’s implementation and materials used.

The 2.8-kilometer road dike is among several flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro awarded to Sunwest Corporation. Investigators have linked these projects to former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, who authorities say remains at large.

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed multiple graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan against nine detained DPWH-MIMAROPA officials, along with Co and several Sunwest officials, in connection with the questioned projects.

Court proceedings are ongoing as the anti-graft court evaluates the bail petitions while hearing evidence presented by the prosecution regarding alleged lapses in compliance with government engineering standards and the possible misuse of public funds.