DPWH officers detained at Quezon City Jail over P289-M flood control project

Former Department of Public Works and Highways officers, who have been arrested in connection with corruption and malversation of public funds charges related to the allegedly anomalous P289-million flood control project in Naujan, Occidental Mindoro, have been detained at the Quezon City Jail.

The six accused were brought to the QC Jail's male dormitory in Payatas, Quezon City, at 3:36 p.m.

• Gerald Pacanan, DPWH regional director
• Gene Ryan Altea, DPWH assistant regional director
• Ruben D.S. Santos, DPWH assistant regional director
• Dominic Serrano, DPWH construction division chief and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairperson
• Dennis Abagon, DPWH OIC-chief, Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division, BAC regular member
• Felisardo Casuno, DPWH project engineer III

They had their mugshots taken, physical examinations, and their personal details collected.

One of the accused, who has been taken into custody, Juliet Calvo, was able to post bail as she was not among those charged for malversation of public funds. She posted a P90,000 bail for the corruption charge.

The other accused, accountant Lerma Cayco, was committed to the female dormitory of Camp Karingal in Quezon City.

“Sila po ay mostly taga DPWH, Region 4B. Hinarap na po sila sa batas at dito po may confinement order na po sila dito,” Interior Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla said of the six detained at the jail in Payatas.

They are mostly from the DPWH Region 4B. They have faced the court and they have been confined here.)

“Lahat naman sila yung may kasamang counsel. So everything is within the law. Ang sinisigurado ko lang ang personal safety ng ating mga anim na naka-detain dito," he added.

(They were all assisted by counsel, so everything is within the law. I guarantee the personal safety of the six detained here.)

'Baha na Sila Gang'

Remulla even managed to crack a joke, saying the six accused in a substandard flood control project have already joined a gang inside the jail.

“Sa pagkarinig namin ay may gang na silang sinalihan. 'Yung Baha na Sila Gang,” Remulla quipped, using a word play on flood control and the Bahala Na Gang, a longtime group of detainees in the country's penal system.

(From what we heard, they already joined a gang. The Baha na Sila Gang.)

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology chief Jail Director Ruel Rivera said there would be no problem with overcrowding in the Payatas jail. 

Rivera said 3,000 were detained at the QC Jail in Payatas. He said its capacity is more than 6,000.

He said the six detainees will be placed together in the same cell, assuring that they will not receive any special treatment.

“As of now, nasa gen-pop (general population) pa rin sila. Wala po kami binubuksan na special wing. So, kung saan yung mga general population ng Quezon City inmates, doon rin sila nakatira ngayon,” Remula said.

(They're now in the general population. We didn't open a special wing for them. Wherever the general population among the Quezon City inmates is, that's where they are.)

'No special treatment'

Rivera said the flood control inmates will have the same tasks and food as the others.

“Mula po dun sa pagtulog, sa pagkain at sa day task kung meron na po silang dapat magawin. Opo, pare-pareho lang po ang kanilang tasking. Then pagkain po nila, pare-pareho, except kung may mga pagkain pong dala syempre isa-subject po yan sa mga, ano natin dito, security, dapat luto lang po,” Rivera said. 

(From their sleep, their food, and their daily tasks, if they already have things to do, these will all be the same. Their food will be the same, except for any food brought in from outside, which will be subject to security checks. It should already be cooked.)

Like other persons deprived of liberty, they may receive visitors from Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday to Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Medical issues will also not be an excuse for hospital arrest since doctors and nurses are available 24/7. Remulla has also requested funding for a medical room inside the facility.

Accused abroad send feelers

Remulla said three of the accused are currently abroad and have conveyed through their lawyers that they intend to surrender.

He said they are in the US, Qatar, and New Zealand.

Remulla said their lawyers have stated that they will report to the Philippine embassies within the week.

He said they have been told that they were being tracked.

"There’s no use hiding," Remulla said.

Remulla said the three have until Thursday to present themselves to authorities.

Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co remains at large.

“We are waiting for the court’s action on the cancellation of his passport. And then 'yung red notice is in effect. So, baka mahanap na natin anytime soon,” says Remulla. 

(We might track him down soon,)

Remulla said that the arraignment of the six detainees is scheduled in the coming days, but emphasized they are still presumed innocent until proven guilty. –NB, GMA Integrated News