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Ex-DPWH district engineer 'intentionally defrauded' gov’t over Baliwag ghost flood project: Ridon

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A leader of the House Infra Committee believes the relieved Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer who signed the certificates of completion for three alleged non-existent and substandard flood control projects in Bulacan “intentionally defrauded” the government.</p><p>House Infra Comm Co-Chair Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list doubts the claim of engineer Henry Alcantara that he was only negligent when he signed the certificates without personally checking the project.  </p><p>Alcantara told the joint panel on Tuesday that he relied on the certificate that the final inspection team issued. He said he operated on the presumption of regularity.</p><p>“Negligence is going to be his defense in court, and this is something that we reject… District Engineer Alcantara intentionally defrauded government in not implementing the Baliwag Bulacan Ghost Project,” Ridon said in a press conference on Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/21/p55-m-ghost-river-wall-project-in-baliwag-skipped-local-gov-t-oversight-lgu-says-1651">P55-M &#x27;ghost&#x27; river wall project in Baliwag skipped local gov&#x27;t oversight, LGU says</a></div><p>Ridon argued that Alcantara was the head of the office &quot;[s]o, you cannot pin the staff down, you cannot pin the ordinary employee down.&quot;</p><p>He said the district engineer has actual liability for the &quot;ghost&quot; project and &quot;is the most responsible&quot; for it.</p><p>&quot;He&#x27;s trying to save himself from the plunder charge. And I stated again na I don&#x27;t think he can escape from that plunder charge,&quot; Ridon said, saying the project cost is above P50 million, the threshold for plunder.</p><p>He added Alcantara could also be liable for using a fake ID to enter casinos.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/marcos-inspects-flood-control-project-in-bulacan-as-probe-intensifies-0913">Marcos &#x27;very angry&#x27; over P55-M &#x27;ghost&#x27; riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan</a></div><p>On Centerways Construction and Development Inc. president Lawrence Lubiano’s disclosure that one of his brothers was elected mayor of a town in Sorsogon, and another, a councilor, Ridon said that the law only prohibits certain relatives of top elected officials from doing business with the government.</p><p>“So this does not apply to members of Congress, whether senator or congressman, or local politicians in the local government units,” Ridon said.</p><p>Of the 80 projects of Lubiano’s company from 2022 to 2025, around 30 are in Sorsogon. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FULL DISCLOSURE</strong></div><p>The House Infra Comm has issued an order for members to disclose ties to government projects, but that is only binding on panel members.</p><p>Ridon said the House might need to pass a resolution for a similar order that would cover all of its members.</p><p>“So I think Congressman Diokno, if he wants to bind the entire House to do the disclosures, well, I think he will have to find a separate House resolution for this,” Ridon said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/dpwh-ncr-no-ghost-flood-control-projects-in-metro-manila-1735"><strong>DPWH NCR: No ‘ghost’ flood control projects in Metro Manila</strong></a></div><p>He added the House Infra Comm is not the proper venue for House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erice of Caloocan&#x27;s motion to invite former House Appropriations Committee chairperson Zaldy Co to answer questions on the 2025 national budget.</p><p>“You have to bring it somewhere else. You can bring it to the Committee of Appropriations kung saan po talaga dapat yun pwedeng pag-usapan,” Ridon said, adding the matter was not referred to the panel.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/house-leaders-to-send-back-poorly-constructed-national-budget-proposal-1640"><strong>House leaders to send back ‘poorly constructed’ national budget proposal</strong></a></div><p>“If Congressman Zaldy Co or whoever person, House member, is linked to an anomalous contract, anomalous transaction, anomalous project relating to ghost projects, substandard projects, flood control, or any infrastructure projects, they may be invited,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>A leader of the House Infra Committee believes the relieved Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer who signed the certificates of completion for three alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects in Bulacan “intentionally defrauded” the government.</p>

A leader of the House Infra Committee believes the relieved Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer who signed the certificates of completion for three alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects in Bulacan “intentionally defrauded” the government.

Ridon: Baliwag 'ghost' flood control project more than just negligence

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Ridon: Baliwag 'ghost' flood control project more than just negligence

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2025 09:12 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

DPWH

Department of Public Works and Highways

House Infra Committee

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