Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="1201" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EzJv9oCoPnk" title="LIVE: DOJ holds press briefing | January 15" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA — Former public works officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, and Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos are now considered state witnesses in the flood control projects scam cases, the Department of Justice said Thursday. </p><p>Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said the four individuals allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects are already covered by the Witness Protection Program. </p><p>DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida said the four would be immune from criminal liability.</p><p>“Isa po sa karapatan ng mga state witness na ina-admit sa programa is to be discharged from criminal liability, doon po sa partikular na kaso na tinutulungan namin, tinutulungan nila kami,” Vida said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/13/alcantara-back-at-doj-for-witness-protection-program-proceedings-1349">Alcantara not recanting prior statements, says lawyer</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>HERNANDEZ, MENDOZA</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176846426836520250909-house-probe-flood-brice-hernandez-MT3.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez attends the congressional hearing on the alleged ghost flood control projects at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>Fadullon said former DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, who also applied for inclusion in the WPP, did not qualify to become state witnesses.</p><p>“Wala kaming nakikitang pangangailangan para sila ay i-discharge namin at least patungkol dito sa mga kaso kung saan sila ay parang lumalapit para matanggap… When the future comes kapag mayroong kaso na maaari silang tumestigo ay maaari pa rin namin ikunsidera kung anuman ang ebidensya na ilalahad nila sa amin,” Fadullon said. </p><p>The DOJ said a total of P316,381,500 had been returned by the four state witnesses, who are supposed to return a total of P1.5 billion. </p><ul><li>The breakdown of restitutions is as follows:</li><li>P181 million - Alcantara </li><li>P80 million - Opulencia </li><li>P20 million - Santos </li><li>P35 million - Bernardo</li></ul><p>The latest to return government funds which were already turned over to the National Treasury was Bernardo who returned P35 million. </p><p>According to DOJ Undersecretary Nicolas Felix Ty, Bernardo returned the amount in the form of a manager’s check.</p><p>“Ang pinanggalingan nito ay pagbenta ng isang ari-arian niya, at ito pa rin ang downpayment para sa ari-arian at kung makuha niya ang balanse ay ibabalik na niya bibigay niya dito sa DOJ,” Ty said.</p><p>Ty said Bernardo is expected to return a total of P1 billion. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>THREE PLUNDER CASES </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, DOJ Spokesperson Polo Martinez said the department was investigating three plunder cases in connection with the flood control mess, involving Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former senator Bong Revilla and former congressman Zaldy Co.  </p><p>“Tatlo po ang plunder cases, you have to remember it’s plunder. There are other charges; plunder lang ang let’s say main charge,” Martinez said. </p><p>Vida said a total of 24 cases, including the three plunder cases, were being investigated by the DOJ, involving SYMS Construction, Wawao Builders and Topnotch Catalyst Builders, Inc. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BONOAN </strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176846438874520250923-senate-probe-flood-control-bonoan-JC3450.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing  on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country at the Senate plenary hall in Pasay City on September 23, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>Vida added that he was in touch with the lawyer of former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan, who <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/11/doj-confirms-ex-dpwh-chief-bonoan-s-departure-for-us-1903">left for the United States </a>last year for his wife’s medical operation. </p><p>The lawyer reported that Bonoan would not be able to go back to the Philippines as earlier promised, Vida said. </p><p>The official said he required Bonoan’s lawyer to send him information on the former secretary’s whereabouts and the date he intended to go back to the country.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/14/ex-dpwh-sec-bonoan-gave-wrong-coordinates-of-flood-control-projects-lacson-2126">Ex-DPWH Sec. Bonoan gave wrong coordinates of flood control projects—Lacson</a></div>

<p>Former public works officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, and Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos are now considered state witnesses in the flood control projects scam cases, the Department of Justice said Thursday.</p>

Former public works officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, and Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos are now considered state witnesses in the flood control projects scam cases, the Department of Justice said Thursday.

DOJ: Contractor, 3 ex-DPWH officials now state witnesses in flood control cases

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DOJ: Contractor, 3 ex-DPWH officials now state witnesses in flood control cases

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 15, 2026 02:38 PM PHT

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Updated January 15, 2026 04:30 PM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

corruption

flood control

state witnesses

state witness

DOJ

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