A former district engineer has told the Sandiganbayan that he gathered P90 Million from contractor payments and turned it over as a kickback intended for then-Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
According to a news report, former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara gave the testimony as a prosecution witness on Monday. He said the money came from advance payments made by contractors and was collected by staff under him at the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office.
How the Money Was Moved
Alcantara testified that his ex-superior, former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, ordered him to produce the so-called commitment fee. To carry out the delivery, he tapped his driver, Erwin San Diego.
The witness described the cash being packed into four to five bank boxes, each containing roughly P20 million. San Diego, he said, brought the boxes to a hotel along Roxas Boulevard.
“I was able to raise it (P90 million) from advance payment of contractors. I instructed him (San Diego) [to deliver them to Usec Bernardo],” Alcantara told the court.
One key point remains unsettled: Alcantara admitted he could not confirm whether the full amount ever reached Revilla.
The Ghost Project at the Center
The testimony forms part of the graft case against Revilla and six co-accused. All of them are tied to a P92.8 million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan that investigators found never existed.
Asked why he signed off on the disbursement papers without ever visiting the site, Alcantara said he relied on reports submitted by his subordinates — several of whom are now among Revilla’s co-accused.
“Yes [I signed them off] because I trust the reports they submitted to me,” he said. He added: “Meron pong mga pictures [na pinakita sa akin]. If I knew [that it was a ghost project], I would not have signed it.”
Officials Named in the Paperwork
Alcantara said the payment documents passed through several hands before approval. Among those he identified:
- Statement of Work Accomplishment and Monthly Certificate of Payment — signed by former Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez and ex-DPWH Engineers Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, and Emelita Juat.
- List of Due and Demandable Accounts Payable – Advice to Debit Account — carried his own signature alongside those of DPWH finance section chief Juanito Mendoza and district cashier Christina Pineda.
Both Mendoza and Pineda are also named as respondents in the case.