DPWH exec cites distance in defending lack of inspections on P289-M Mindoro dike

One of the co-accused of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co in the malversation case involving the alleged substandard P289 million road dike in Oriental Mindoro said conducting a regular inspection on the said flood control project would be "impractical."

Montrexis Tamayo, the former officer-in-charge of the Planning and Design Division of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Mimaropa (Region 4B), stated such defense during the hearing on the malversation case against him before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division.

Tamayo's defense was provided under his judicial affidavit, which was adopted as his direct testimony during the presentation of the evidence for the defense on Thursday, July 30.

Tamayo said the regular inspection of the road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro is not feasible since the office of the DPWH Mimaropa is located in Quezon City, which is very far from the location of the project site along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Earlier, Tamayo's co-accused in the case, former DPWH Region 4B official Dennis Abagon, 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.

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

Abagon, however, said he later received the Statement of Work Accomplishment of the 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.

The P289 million road dike project was funded under the 2024 national budget of the DPWH.—LDF, GMA News