Eight of the 16 accused in the “anomalous” ₱289.5 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro were arraigned before the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division on Thursday, Nov. 27, where they pleaded “not guilty” to the graft charge.
Following the arraignment, the anti-graft court scheduled the preliminary conference for Jan. 9, 19, and 26, 2026, all at 9 a.m., while the pre-trial was set for Feb. 5, 12, 19, and 26, also at 9 a.m.
The Fifth Division is chaired by Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses, with Associate Justices Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac and Gener M. Gito as members.
The court’s fifth division is composed of Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses as chairperson with members Associate Justices Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac and Gener M. Gito.
Those who pleaded “not guilty” were former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region IV-B director Gerald A. Pacanan, assistant regional directors Gene Ryan A. Altea and Ruben D. Santos Jr., Construction Division chief Dominic G. Serrano, project engineer III Felisardo S. Casuno, accountant IV Lerma D. Cayco, officer-in-charge of Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division Dennis Pelo Abagon, and Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Montrexis Tamayo.
They were charged with violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
RA 3019 is violated under Section 3(e) for “causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
The arraignment for co-accused, materials engineer Juliet Cabungan Calvo, has been reset to Dec. 2 since the court was unable to issue a produce order for her to appear on Thursday, Nov. 27.
The eight accused, together with resigned congressman Zaldy Co and six others who have not been accounted for, are also facing a case for alleged violation of Article 171(4) of the Revised Penal Code or malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents before the Sandiganbayan’s sixth division. Their arraignment on the charges has been set for Dec. 2. (Czarina Ong Ki)
