Manila: The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division is set to arraign officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) alongside directors from Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation. This arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday, pertains to allegations surrounding a PHP289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

According to Philippines News Agency, those scheduled to enter pleas before the anti-graft court include resigned Ako Bikol Party-list Representative Elizaldy Co and several DPWH Region 4-B officials. The officials involved are Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben Santos, Dominic Serrano, Juliet Calvo, Dennis Abagon, Montrexis Tamayo, and Lerma Cayco. Additionally, charges have been filed against Sunwest directors Aderma Angelie Alcazar, Cesar Buenaventura, Consuelito Aldon, Noel Yap Cao, and Anthony Ngo.

The project under scrutiny involved the construction of a road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, with a budget set at PHP289,498,230. The charges filed include malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents and a breach of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019).

Elizaldy Co, who is currently at large, faces an additional charge under Section 3(h) of RA 3019 for allegedly receiving unwarranted financial or pecuniary benefits.