Oriental Mindoro local official admits to owning house where DPWH engineer was nabbed

Bansud, Oriental Mindoro Vice Mayor Alma Mirano said she owns the house in Quezon City where Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-MIMAROPA engineer Dennis Abagon was arrested over his supposed link to an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

In an interview with GMA Integrated News as reported by Jun Veneracion in “24 Oras” on Monday, Mirano said she is only renting out the house and that she has no connection to Abagon.

She added that she even coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation and allowed them to enter the house to arrest Abagon, the OIC chief of the DPWH-MIMAROPA Planning and Design Division.

Abagon is among the eight individuals in government custody for allegedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds in connection with the flood control controversy.

One of them surrendered, while eight others are still at large. Of the suspects still at large, four are abroad, including former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.

The charges were in connection with an allegedly substandard P289 million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

According to information from the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police, Aderma Angelie Alcazar, Sunwest Construction president and chairperson of the board of directors, was last known to be in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Cesar Buenaventura, Sunwest’s treasurer and board member, is reportedly in New York, while DPWH Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Montrexis Tamayo is said to be in Jordan.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged the said individuals to surrender to authorities.

The DILG added that it is expecting that Interpol will release a red notice against Co, as they believe he is using a different passport and a different name.

Three other accused abroad also conveyed their intention to surrender to law enforcement agencies. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/JMA, GMA Integrated News