EIGHT Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials linked to an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro pleaded not guilty to their graft charge before the Sandiganbayan on Thursday.
The eight DPWH – Mimaropa officials, currently under government custody, entered their plea as the charges were read to them during their arraignment before the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division.
The officials who pleaded not guilty are:
- Dennis Pelo Abagon (OIC-Chief, DPWH 4B Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division; Regular Member, Bidding and Awards Committee, now OIC-Chief, Planning and Design Division)
- Gerald A. Pacanan (Department of Public Works and Highways Mimaropa (DPWH 4B) Regional Director)
- Gene Ryan Alurin Altea (Assistant Regional Director, now Director of DPWH Bureau of Maintenance)
- Ruben delos Santos Santos Jr. (Assistant Regional Director)
- Dominic Gregorio Serrano (Chief, DPWH 4B Construction Division)
- Felisardo Sevare Casuno (Project Engineer III)
- Lerma Dotado Cayco (DPWH 4B Bidding and Awards Committee Account IV)
- Montrexis Tamayo (DPWH 4B Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Engr.)
The anti-graft court revealed that DPWH-4B maintenance division head Juliet Calvo was not present and will be arraigned on December 2. She is currently detained in Camp Karingal.
