The first court hearing for a contractor and several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials from Davao Occidental took place on Monday, January 5, 2026. The proceedings were conducted via videoconference from a detention facility in Lapu-Lapu City.
Videoconference Hearing from Detention
Contractor Sarah Discaya and eight DPWH–Davao Occidental officials, alongside Maria Roman Rimando, appeared before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City. Presiding Judge Nelson Leyco oversaw the hearing. All accused individuals participated remotely from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility located in Lapu-Lapu City.
Motion to Quash Challenges Venue
A significant development in the hearing was the filing of a motion to quash information by the majority of the accused. They contend that OCA-Circular 328-2025, a Supreme Court order concerning the transfer of cases, does not apply to them. This legal maneuver forms the core of their initial defense strategy.
Lawyer Joseph Randi Torregosa, who represents accused Rodrigo Larete, the officer-in-charge of the DPWH Davao Occidental District Engineering Office, elaborated on this argument. He stated in an interview that the Supreme Court's directive on moving cases to another judicial region should not affect his client and the other accused.
Key Argument on Salary Grade
Torregosa's central argument hinges on the specific criteria of the Supreme Court order. He emphasized that the case should rightfully remain with the RTC in Malita, Davao Occidental. The lawyer clarified that this is because none of the individuals accused in this matter holds a government position classified at Salary Grade 27 or higher, which is a stipulation outlined in the court's transfer directive.
As of this initial hearing, Judge Nelson Leyco has not yet issued a ruling on the pending motions. The court is expected to deliberate on the arguments presented regarding the proper venue and jurisdiction before the case proceeds to the substantive matters of the charges filed.
