FORMER Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara alleged that he delivered at least P1.75 billion to P1.8 billion to former Public Works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo as part of the commissions for the flood control projects in Pandi, Bulacan.
In his testimony on Friday at the Sandiganbayan Third Division for the bail hearing of Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and his other co-accused, Alcantara replied to the query of Associate Justice Ronald Moreno if there were commissions that were given to Bernardo.
Alcantara said that while he cannot recall the amount, he said that Bernardo was given more or less 10 percent to 15 percent commission from the flood control projects in the General Appropriations Act.
When pressed by division chairman and Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Alcantara said that around P1.75 billion to P1.8 billion was given to Bernardo, which should have been delivered to the proponent.
Another former DPWH district engineer, Brice Ericson Hernandez, alleged he delivered around P1.8 billion to contractor Sally Santos of SYMS Construction.
Alcantara said he had no personal dealings with Revilla, noting that the marginal note "Sen BR" in the project proposal was written by Bernardo instead.
Alcantara added that it is impossible that a flood control project would be more than 95-percent complete in 21 days, as he said that it is completed on an average of 90 days.
He told the court that he was the one who reported the possible ghost project in Pandi to former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan, while he said that he has no dealings with the late former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral and former Public Works secretary Sen. Mark Villar, who appointed him in Bulacan in 2019.
At the tail end of his testimony, Miranda asked Alcantara how to stop corruption, since he is already living the experience of corruption, to which Alcantara urged "total transparency" in all transactions.
Revilla's lawyer, Reody Balisi, said that Alcantara's testimony proves that his client did not have any personal dealings with Bernardo.
"It only strengthens our defense all along that former senator Bong Revilla does not have any participation or any involvement in the so-called ghost flood control projects," Balisi told reporters.
The Sandiganbayan will continue its hearings on Revilla and his co-accused's bail next week, with hearings to stretch from Monday to Friday.
