A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer told the Sandiganbayan Third Division that a controversial flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan allegedly lacked the required construction materials test report despite being reported as 95.75 percent complete.

During the Wednesday, May 20 hearing in the malversation through falsification case against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office Quality Assurance Section OIC Ferdinand Vergara testified on the P92.8-million flood control project, which prosecutors have described as a “ghost” project.

Vergara said the documents he examined lacked attached test results for construction materials used in infrastructure projects—a requirement under DPWH procedures.

Questioned by Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda, who chaired the proceedings, Vergara said Department Order No. 11 requires test reports to be attached to progress billings.

The witness said the absence of test reports meant the procedure prescribed by the DPWH Quality Assurance Section was not fully complied with.

Vergara also identified the materials engineer, project engineer, and chief of construction as the officials responsible for ensuring that the required documents and test results were attached before payments could be processed.

He explained that the materials engineer must first review and sign off on the test results, followed by the project engineer.

Vergara further told the court that the project engineer is required to ensure that positive test results are attached to the billing documents and that the corresponding signatures of responsible personnel are present before the documents move up the approval process.

He said the chief of construction is expected to conduct the final verification whether all requirements have been met before approving monthly certificate of payments.