Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers in Bulacan pleaded not guilty when arraigned by the Sandiganbayan on the graft charges filed against them in the P92.8 million “ghost” flood control project in Pandi town.

Those who pleaded not guilty before the anti-graft court’s fourth division were former assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez, engineer Jaypee Mendoza, and cashier Christina Mae Pineda.

After their arraignment, the court scheduled on Feb. 13 the stipulation of facts, marking of exhibits, marking of evidence, and preliminary conference.

The arraignment of their co-accused – former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., engineer R. J. Domasig, and accountant Juanito Mendoza – has been scheduled on Feb. 9.

The pre-trial on the charges filed against Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Pineda, and engineer Emelita Juat, who already pleaded not guilty last Jan. 23, will be on Feb. 19.

Revilla and his co-accused were charged with violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, before the fourth division, and Article 217 in relation to Articles 171 and 172 of the Revised Penal Code on malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents before the third division.

They are currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas.

Revilla and his co-accused allegedly conspired to facilitate the release of approximately P76 million for the supposed construction of the P72.8 million flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi town. Based on official inspection and witness accounts, the project was “never implemented.

The charges also stated: "Despite the absence of any actual construction, the accused declared the project completed. Thereafter, to facilitate the release of the entire project cost, the accused were found to have falsified accomplishment reports, issued fraudulent billing documents, and endorsed disbursement vouchers."

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