Embattled engineer Isabelo Baleros, a former district engineer of the Las Piñas–Muntinlupa District Engineering Office, was arrested inside his Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) office in Port Area, Manila, on charges of multiple counts of estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
The arrest warrant, issued by Judge Tammy Ann Reyes Mendillo of the Manila RTC Branch 22 under Criminal Case No. R-MNL-25-07000-CR, was dated September 30, 2025. Baleros was taken into custody by operatives and is currently detained at Baseco Police Station 13, after posting ₱48,000 bail. Authorities confirmed that the arrest was carried out with the use of a body-worn camera in compliance with court directives.
Police said Baleros’ co-accused—Ferdinand A. Villar, Dennis Aguilar, and Tony Espi—remain at large. Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos has asked investigators to determine if Villar is related to former Senators Manny and Cynthia Villar, while sources confirmed that Aguilar is a former Las Piñas councilor.
Baleros was earlier dismissed by then-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, after Rep. Santos linked him to questionable transactions, including the alleged diversion of ₱450 million in flood control funds intended for Las Piñas.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. If DPWH is serious about reforms, they must not only fire but also jail these officials.
The ₱450 million stolen from Las Piñas is the people’s hard-earned money. We will not let this go unanswered,” Santos said.
Records show that on August 30, 2018, then-Public Works Secretary—now Senator—Mark Villar appointed Baleros as acting head of the LPM-DEO, later confirming him as district engineer.
At a Senate Blue Ribbon hearing, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that Villar had also appointed him in 2017, along with members of the so-called “Bulacan Group of Contractors (BGC) boys,” including controversial engineer Henry Alcantara and Baleros.
Baleros is further accused of transferring Las Piñas project funds from his district office to the DPWH National Capital Region office without consultation with local officials, a move reportedly approved by then-Assistant Secretary Loreta Malaluan and confirmed by Bonoan.
In light of these allegations, current DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon issued a show cause order against Baleros and nine other engineers over suspicions of lavish lifestyles and involvement in substandard projects. They were given five days to explain.