Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, an executive officer of the Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction, has voluntarily surrendered to the Pasig City Police Station on Monday night, her legal counsel confirmed Tuesday.
Rimando’s surrender comes amid a massive corruption scandal over flood control projects, just days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to track her down, along with government contractor Sarah Discaya and several Public Works and Highways officials.
The Ombudsman recently filed graft and malversation cases against the individuals involved in an alleged P96.5-million “ghost” project in Davao Occidental.
Atty. Cornelio Samaniego, Rimando’s lawyer, confirmed that the executive decided to surrender to Pasig City Police Chief Colonel Hendrix Mangaldan while anticipating an arrest warrant.
“She thought it best just voluntarily to surrender to the authorities to avoid harassment… because she doesn’t want to be like others already in custody over flood control project anomalies,” Samaniego said.
To prove she has no intention of fleeing the country, Rimando also surrendered her Philippine passport alongside her voluntary turnover.
She is currently “under the care” of the Pasig City police headquarters and will be turned over to the respective court once a formal arrest warrant is issued.