MANILA — The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division will arraign officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and directors of Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation on Tuesday over the alleged anomalous PHP289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Scheduled to enter a plea before the anti-graft court are resigned Ako Bikol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and DPWH Region 4-B officials Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben Santos, Dominic Serrano, Juliet Calvo, Dennis Abagon, Montrexis Tamayo, and Lerma Cayco.

Also facing charges are Sunwest directors Aderma Angelie Alcazar, Cesar Buenaventura, Consuelito Aldon, Noel Yap Cao, and Anthony Ngo.

The project involves the construction of a road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, with a total budget of PHP289,498,230.

The cases were filed for malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, and violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019). Co, who remains at large, was additionally charged with violation of Section 3(h) of RA 3019 for receiving unwarranted financial or pecuniary benefits.

(PNA)