15 still at large in P289.5m Oriental Mindoro flood control case
Only one of 17 individuals ordered arrested by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr, has been arrested as of yesterday, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Dennis Abagon, a regular member of the Bids and Awards Committee at DPWH 4-B, was the first to be arrested of the 17 facing charges of malversation of public funds over the controversial P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
But the number of accused still at large now only number 15 after the Sandigabayan did not issue arrest warrants for two of the 17. It was not explained why the two were excluded.
NBI OIC-Director Atty. Angelito Magno said that the suspect could not be found at his registered address in Cavite but was eventually traced to Quezon City.
Abagon was arrested at a private residence after a two-day surveillance operation, it was disclosed.
Two other unnamed individuals were arrested with him for obstruction of justice, it was also reported.
Seized from the DPWH official were three cellular phones, identification cards, a power bank, a drone, and a digital video recorder, according to Magno.
Abagon was charged with malversation of public funds in connection with the P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
He is set to be turned over to the Sandiganbayan for further proceedings regarding the charges, Magno said.
Meanwhile, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said its operatives were unable to serve the arrest warrants on other suspects in the anomalous flood control projects during their visits to the respondents’ listed addresses.
In a statement, the QCPD said the subjects of the manhunt are Anthony Ngo, a Sunwest board member; Lerma Cayco, Accountant IV of the Bids and Awards committee of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 5-B; Dominic Gregorio Serrano, Chief of the Construction Division, DPWH Region 5-B; and Timojen Adiong Sacar, Material Engineer at DPWH Region 5-B, all residents of Quezon City.
“While operatives visited all registered addresses of the accused, none of the subjects were present during the attempts; hence, no warrant was deemed served,” the QCPD noted.
The QCPD emphasized that they are intensifying follow-up operations and district-wide manhunt efforts, noting that they are coordinating with national agencies and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) for a potential Red Notice.
It added that they are coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the issuance of a Hold Departure Order, as well as with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for a monetary reward to help expedite the arrest.
For its part, the Sandiganbayan has denied the motion of DPWH officials to suspend the issuance of arrest warrants against them.
In a resolution obtained by the media, the Sandiganbayan 5th Division denied the motion filed by Gene Ryan A. Altea, Ruben D.S. Santos, Dominic G. Serrano, Montrexis T. Tamayo, Juliet C. Calvo, Dennis P. Abagon and Lerma D. Cayco to “hold in abeyance” the issuance of arrest warrants against them.
The petitioners are all officials of the DPWH Mimaropa and are tagged in the approval and implementation of the nearly P290 million road dike project in Naujan.
As this developed, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has placed its personnel in all international airports and seaports nationwide on heightened alert following the Sandiganbayan’s issuance of arrest warrants on November 21 for former lawmaker Zaldy Co and 15 others.
In a statement on Sunday, Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said the names of all individuals covered by the warrants have been added to the agency’s centralized derogatory database. This allows immigration officers to immediately identify and verify any attempt by the subjects to enter or leave the Philippines.
“Once intercepted, our officers are under strict instruction to promptly coordinate with the Philippine National Police for the proper and lawful execution of the warrants,” Viado said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “NBI arrests DPWH engineer in flood control scandal”
