Vice mayor ‘ignores’ NBI summons over engineer’s arrest

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

December 7, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A municipal vice mayor in Oriental Mindoro summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation to explain the arrest in her property of an engineer tagged in anomalous flood control projects failed to appear before the NBI on Friday.

Vice Mayor Alma Mirano of Bansud town was reportedly sick and could not report to the NBI, according to her counsel, James Licayu.

The lawyer said Mirano would appear before the NBI technical intelligence division next week.

“We are not avoiding the NBI’s subpoena and we will respond to all questions at the right time and at the proper forum,” Licayu said.

Mirano owns the townhouse where authorities arrested Dennis Abagon, an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Mimaropa and one of 16 people tagged in the flood control scandal.

Earlier, Mirano said Abagon had been renting her property since October 2024.

She said that when she learned that an arrest warrant was issued against Abagon, she informed the NBI about the location of the respondent.

On Monday, the NBI ordered Mirano to appear before the bureau and explain her ties with Abagon.

Acting NBI chief Angelito Magno said Mirano may request to reschedule the subpoena, although he said the distance between Manila and Oriental Mindoro may hinder her from appearing physically before the bureau.

Magno said the subpoena would clarify whether Mirano tipped the NBI about Abagon’s location, noting there is no report on the matter.

“It is a welcome development for her to face our office to enlighten the bureau and the public, although she has already given a statement openly,” Magno said.

He said the NBI is also ready to arrest contractor Sarah Discaya once the Digos City Regional Trial Court issues a warrant for her arrest.