MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has rejected the bail petitions of nine former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who, along with ex-Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, face malversation charges over a reportedly substandard P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

In a 41-page resolution, the anti-graft court said the prosecution demonstrated strong evidence of the accused officials’ involvement in the release of funds to the project contractor.

“The prosecution’s evidence shows that accused Serrano, Cayco, Pacanan, Altea, and Santos made their respective certifications and approvals in the subject disbursement vouchers. As a result, the total amount of P215 million was released to Sunwest, Inc.,” the court noted, referring to the contractor.

The court added that the accused allowed Sunwest, Inc. to access the funds through “untruthful statements in a narration of facts.”

Those denied bail are: Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Montrexis Tamayo, Juliet Calvo, Dominic Serrano, Dennis Abagon, Lerma Cayco, Felisardo Casuno, and Ruben Santos Jr.

The Sandiganbayan clarified that the denial of bail does not constitute a finding of guilt. “The Court’s ruling herein is not a prejudgment of the guilt of the said accused. The Court merely determined the weight of evidence for the purposes of bail,” it said.