Two DPWH-Mimaropa cashiers testify in graft trial of ex-Ako Bicol solon Zaldy Co

MANILA, Philippines, and the Mimaropa region are at the center of a significant corruption trial. On Wednesday, two cashiers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Mimaropa took the witness stand in the Sandiganbayan, testifying in the graft case against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and his co-accused. The case stems from an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro, a matter that hits close to home for many in our island provinces.

What did the cashiers testify about?

Pilar Amanda Gacutan and Carla Grace Dahonog, both cashiers from the DPWH Mimaropa office, were presented by state prosecutors before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division. The two underwent cross-examination by defense lawyers, shedding light on their roles in disbursing payments to Sunwest Corporation, a company linked to Co.

Sunwest Corporation is no stranger to national attention. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously identified it as one of the top 15 contractors that bagged the most flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025. This connection has made the case a focal point in the broader fight against corruption in public works.

How were the payments processed?

Both witnesses explained the payment process in detail. The finance division prepares the List of Due and Demandable Accounts Payable, or LDDAP-ADA, which is then encoded into the Land Bank's Electronic Modified Disbursement System, or EMDS.

Dahonog, who serves as the designated maker, said she encodes the data into the system and forwards the documents to Gacutan. Gacutan, in turn, makes an access to the EMDS for her signature on the ADA portion, but not for approval. The process, they said, requires multiple layers of authorization before any money moves.

Did the cashiers have approval power?

Associate Justice Maryann Corpuz-Mañalac, the presiding officer, asked Gacutan directly if they participate in facilitating the approval of payments. Her answer was clear: no.

Gacutan explained,

“From the approval of the disbursement voucher, and the LDDAP itself, that's the time when we forward the payment to the LandBank EMDS.”

She emphasized that she only acts as the designated authorizer to forward the LDDAP-ADA to the bank, and only after the regional director, or the assistant regional director in his absence, has given approval.

When asked if she was coerced to allow the crediting of money, Gacutan said no. She also confirmed that if she does not authorize the forwarding, the money will not be transferred to the claimant. This detail is crucial, as it establishes the checks and balances within the system.

Who are the approving authorities in this case?

The defense counsel asked Gacutan if the approving authorities were Gerald Alday Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, and Ruben Santos Jr. She answered in the affirmative. Pacanan served as the regional director, while Altea and Santos were assistant regional directors of DPWH Mimaropa. All three are co-accused with Co in the graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.

The cases are connected to a P289.9 million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. The project was flagged as substandard and found to have structural deficiencies, raising serious concerns about the use of public funds meant to protect our communities from flooding.

Why does this matter for Mimaropa and beyond?

For those of us in the provinces, this trial is more than just a legal proceeding. It is a test of whether our public servants can be held accountable for their actions. Flood control projects are lifelines for our rural communities, especially during typhoon season. When these projects fail, it is our farmers, our fisherfolk, and our families who suffer the consequences.

The testimony of these two cashiers, while procedural, reinforces the importance of transparency in government transactions. It also serves as a reminder that every layer of the bureaucracy has a role to play in ensuring that public funds are spent wisely and honestly.

What happens next in the trial?

The Sandiganbayan continues to hear the case, with more witnesses expected to testify in the coming weeks. DPWH Secretary Manuel Dizon is also set to take the stand, a development that could provide further insight into the approval processes for large-scale infrastructure projects.

As the trial unfolds, the nation watches closely. For the people of Oriental Mindoro and the entire Mimaropa region, the outcome of this case will determine whether justice is served for a project that was supposed to protect them but instead raised more questions than answers.