MANILA — A former Department of Public Works and Highways engineer on Thursday denied falsifying an inspection certificate for a Naujan, Oriental Mindoro road dike project, but admitted he often relied on contractor reports because he could not be present at critical stages of construction.
Felisardo Casuno, former DPWH-Mimaropa project engineer, "vehemently" denied the allegation in his judicial affidavit before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, which is hearing the malversation case against him and other co-accused officials of fugitive former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
Under questioning by Associate Justice Kevin Vivero, Casuno acknowledged that he sometimes depended on Sunwest's reports because they controlled the materials and workers on site.
"Dahil sa daming projects na iniikutan ng tao ko, sometimes yung report ng contractor, kasi sila may control ng materials, tao… kailangan mag-rely kami sa reports nila dahil sa practical limitation," Casuno said.
Casuno said steel sheet piles were driven into the ground three times, but he was present for only one instance in March 2024. He said he knew of the other two but could not send personnel because of his team's workload.
An earlier inspection led by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon found that the piles had been driven only 3 meters deep, far short of the 12 meters required by the project's Detailed Engineering Design.
Dizon previously testified that the road dike was shoddily built and that parts of it collapsed when it rained.
‘Impossible’ for Sunwest to rectify ‘substandard’ road dike project in Oriental Mindoro—Dizon
Vivero then asked if a project engineer is expected to be present during critical activities such as pile driving.
"In the function of project engineer, critical yun, dapat andun sana ako. Kaso sa numbers ng project ko and geographical locations ng projects ko, di ko mapuntahan araw-araw," Casuno responded.
Casuno said he conducted site inspections at least twice a month when his schedule allowed.
He said only three personnel were assigned to Oriental Mindoro, including an inspector and two contract-of-service workers.
He added that he oversaw more than 60 projects in Naujan alone, while he and his staff also had to respond to other officials' requests to resolve construction stoppages elsewhere.
The defense noted that DPWH had only three to four project engineers for 200 live projects.
Casuno agreed that the shortage was worsened by the lengthy accreditation process. He said he went through several accreditation levels and took years to become a Project Engineer III.
The prosecution alleged that Casuno and other accused DPWH-Mimaropa officials conspired to divert government funds by falsifying the project’s disbursement vouchers and inspection documents.
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