A WIDENING investigation into the arrest of a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official is now focusing on the alleged involvement of a vice mayor from Oriental Mindoro.
Engr. Dennis Abagon, a DPWH Mimaropa (4B) official, was apprehended in a Quezon City residence early Sunday morning, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has indicated that the property is purportedly owned by the vice mayor of Bansud, Oriental Mindoro, raising questions about potential links and the nature of Abagon’s presence there.
During a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, NBI officer-in-charge Atty. Angelito Magno stated that authorities are verifying reports linking the house to the unnamed vice mayor.
However, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla later asserted, “We have determined that he is the owner of the property,” confirming in a text message that he was indeed referring to the vice mayor of Bansud, Oriental Mindoro. The conflicting statements have fueled speculation and intensified the scrutiny of the vice mayor’s role in the unfolding situation.
The DILG is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Abagon’s stay at the residence, including whether he was renting the property or being intentionally hidden. “We’re just determining what is the nature of his stay there. So, until we determine whether he was renting or he was being hidden, we don’t have a definitive statement as to the status of the investigation on him,” Remulla explained. The ambiguity surrounding the relationship between Abagon and the vice mayor has prompted calls for a thorough and transparent investigation to uncover any potential wrongdoing or abuse of power.
Neither Magno nor Remulla disclosed the identity of the vice mayor, leaving it unclear whether they were referring to a past or current official. When pressed for confirmation on the vice mayor’s gender, Remulla only stated, “I’ll get the information.”
