Ex-DPWH exec admits signing inspection certificate without verifying project status

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 4B official Dennis Abagon on Tuesday told the Sandiganbayan that he signed the certificate of inspection for the alleged substandard P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro without verifying its status.

Abagon made the testimony during the hearing on the malversation case filed against him and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, among others, before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division.

It was the first day of the presentation of evidence for the defense, with Abagon taking the witness stand.

When the prosecution panel asked Abagon if he signed the Certificate of Inspection without verifying the status of the project, Abagon replied “yes.”

He, however, said he later received the Statement of Work Accomplishment of the P289-million flood control project.

Upon questioning by the prosecution, Abagon also told the court that the payment for the flood control project will still push through even without his signature on the certificate of inspection.

In addition, he said that as the DPWH office in charge/Chief of the Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division and a regular member of the Bids and Awards Committee, it was not his job to conduct physical inspection for the first billing stage of the project.

“Hindi po [kami nag on site inspection] kasi hindi naman kami required (We did not do on-site inspection because we were not required to do so),” Abagon said.

He also said the progress of the project should be monitored by field engineers and project inspectors which are all under the supervision of the project engineer.

The project engineer of the P289-million project is Timojen Sacar, who is also accused in the case and remains at large.

Asked by the prosecution team if he knows where Sacar is, laughter filled the court room and Abagon did not give an answer.

Others accused in the case who were present during Tuesday’s hearing include:

• Gerald Pacanan, former DPWH Regional Director
• Gene Ryan Altea, former DPWH Assistant Regional Director
• Ruben D.S. Santos, former DPWH Assistant Regional Director
• Dominic Serrano, DPWH Chief, Construction Division; Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairperson
• Juliet Calvo, DPWH Chief, Maintenance Division and
• Felisardo Casuno, DPWH Project Engineer 3

—AOL, GMA News