Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Tensions flared at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday as Brice Hernandez, a former Public Works and Highways district engineer, accused ex-Bulacan engineer Henry Alcantara of coercing subordinates to take the fall for alleged anomalies in flood control projects.Hernandez recounted to senators an August 3 confrontation wherein Alcantara allegedly pressured him and fellow engineer JP Mendoza to assume blame.“Noong August 3, 2025, pinatawag kami ni dating District Engineer Henry Alcantara na noong panahong iyon ay naitalaga na bilang Assistant Regional Director ng Region 4A… pinapaako po sa aming dalawa lang ni Jaypee Mendoza ang problema sa mga flood control projects. Siyempre po hindi po kami pumayag. Doon po nagsimula ang paninira at pagdiin sa amin sa mga anomalya,” Hernandez said.He also claimed that Alcantara intimidated other staff to side with him by threatening to implicate them.“Tinakot pa niya ang mga kasama namin sa opisina na kapag hindi kumampi sa kanya, idadamay niya sa amin dahil pinapalabas niya na sa kanilang lahat na hawak niya raw ang ebidensya para madamay sila. Kaya sila napilitang kumampi kay Alcantara para kami na lang ang idiin nilang lahat,” he added.Hernandez also linked Alcantara to Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, alleging the official was behind manipulation of senatorial funds.“Base po sa sinabi ni boss Henry sa akin, si Usec, Robert Bernardo po ang nagma-manipulate ng ibang senatorial funds po na bumababa sa aming opisina,” Hernandez testified.<div>ALCANTARA DENIES INTIMIDATION, ADMITS RECEIVING VEHICLES</div>Alcantara refuted the coercion claims, saying he merely urged staff to be truthful.“Hindi po totoo na tinakot ko po iyong mga tao. Ang sinasabi ko lang po sa kanila ay magsabi ng katotohanan during kung ano ang nangyari sa meeting na ako po galit na galit sa dalawa at sinabi ko po sa kanila, aminin niyo sa kanila na ako ay hindi involved diyan,” Alcantara said.He, however, admitted receiving luxury vehicles, a GMC and a Land Cruiser 300, from subordinates, initially dismissing them as birthday and holiday gifts.“Your Honor, if I may, birthday ko po noong dinala nila sa akin ‘yan. Birthday gift daw po nilang tatlo. Biniro ko pa nga sila, anong gagawin ko diyan? Sana pinera niyo na lang,” Alcantara said.“Niregaluhan po nila ako ng LC-300, at saka GMC po. To be exact po, Your Honor,” he added.<div>CONTRACTOR: MILLIONS IN &#x27;ROYALTIES&#x27;</div>Also in the spotlight was Sally Santos, owner of SYMS Construction Trading, who earlier sought physical protection from the panel before answering questions on the supposed flood control project modus. Her request was granted by Committee Chair Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.When pressed by senators, Santos admitted she collected a 3% “royalty” fee from projects brokered through her firm, amounting to tens of millions of pesos.“Three percent po, your honor. Marami po kasi iyon. Mahigit po [sa 20 million],” Santos admitted.As the hearing wrapped up, Senator JV Ejercito urged that Santos be given government protection due to the sensitivity of her testimony.“Mr. Chair I would recommend to the Senate President that Sally Santos be recommended to the Department of Justice to apply and be endorsed for the witness protection program,” Ejercito said.The Blue Ribbon probe into the DPWH’s flood control projects continues, with senators zeroing in on alleged coercion, kickbacks, and the flow of questionable funds linked to Alcantara’s office.

Tensions flared at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday as Brice Hernandez, a former Public Works and Highways district engineer, accused ex-Bulacan DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara of coercing subordinates to take the fall for alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

Tensions flared at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday as Brice Hernandez, a former Public Works and Highways district engineer, accused ex-Bulacan DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara of coercing subordinates to take the fall for alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

Ex-DPWH engineer admits accepting luxury vehicles amid flood control scandal

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Ex-DPWH engineer admits accepting luxury vehicles amid flood control scandal

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 18, 2025 07:28 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

Blue Ribbon Committee

Brice Hernandez

Henry Alcantara

flood control

DPWH

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