EMBATTLED engineer Isabelo Baleros was arrested by operatives inside his office at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Port Area, Manila, on charges of multiple counts of estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
The arrest warrant, issued by Hon. Tammy Ann Reyes Mendillo, Presiding Judge of Manila RTC Branch 22, under Criminal Case No. R-MNL-25-07000-CR, was dated September 30, 2025.
Baleros, a former district engineer of the Las Piñas-Muntinlupa District Engineering Office, has been detained at the Baseco Police Station 13 since Thursday, after posting a ₱48,000 bail.
He was duly served with his warrant of arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights. Operatives used a body-worn camera/alternative recording device in compliance with the directive of the court.
However, Baleros’ co-accused—identified as Ferdinand A. Villar, Dennis Aguilar, and Tony Espi—remain at large, according to police operatives who briefed Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos.
The office of Rep. Santos is now investigating whether accused Ferdinand A. Villar is related to former Senators Manny and Cynthia Villar. Reliable sources also revealed that Dennis Aguilar is a former councilor of Las Piñas.
Baleros was earlier dismissed by then-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, following allegations raised by Rep. Santos linking him to questionable transactions, including the alleged diversion of ₱450 million in flood control funds intended for Las Piñas.
“This is the tip of the iceberg. If DPWH really wants to prove it is serious about reforms, they must not only fire but also jail these officials. The ₱450 million stolen from Las Piñas is not just a number—it’s the people’s hard-earned money. We will not let this go unanswered,” Santos said.
Records show that on August 30, 2018, then-Public Works Secretary—and now Senator—Mark Villar appointed Baleros as acting head of the LPM-DEO, later confirming him as district engineer.
At a recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that Villar had also appointed him in 2017, along with several members of the so-called “Bulacan Group of Contractors (BGC) boys”, including controversial engineer Henry Alcantara and Baleros.
Baleros is also accused of transferring funds for Las Piñas projects from his district office to the DPWH National Capital Region office without consultation with local officials. The move was reportedly approved by then-Assistant Secretary Loreta Malaluan and confirmed by Bonoan.
Because of these questionable transactions, current DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon issued a show cause order against Baleros and nine other engineers over allegations of lavish lifestyles and involvement in substandard projects.
The officials were given five days to submit their explanations.
