THE prosecution team on Tuesday presented Henry Alcantara as a witness in the case against former lawmaker Elizaldy Co at the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the case last November against Co and several others for alleged malversation of public funds through falsification of documents in connection with a road dike construction project in Oriental Mindoro.
Defense lawyers objected to presenting the witness, but the court decided to allow it.
The prosecution presented Alcantara, a state witness and former district engineer of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, in connection with the allegation that Co had beneficial interest in Sunwest.
The time relevant to the case was “sometime in March 2024 to June 2025.” The prosecution adopted Alcantara’s judicial affidavit as his direct testimony, and the defense lawyers did not conduct a cross-examination.
Accused Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben Santos Jr., Juliet Calvo, Dennis Abagon, Dominic Serrano, Montrexis Tamayo, Lerma Cayco, and Felisardo Casuno were present. The court has denied their bail petitions, while Co and several others remain at large.
On March 17, the prosecution team presented former Public Works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo as a witness.