Marilyn Cahatol

Former DPWH-Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing into the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country at the Senate plenary hall in Pasay City on September 23, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

FLOOD CONTROL PROBE

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1729505481359546%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>MANILA — Lawyers for the former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)–Mimaropa refused to cross-examine state witness Henry Alcantara in the malversation case over a road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, to manifest their objection to his testimony.</p><p>The defense argued that Alcantara’s judicial affidavit was irrelevant and immaterial to the case, noting it made no reference to the Oriental Mindoro project and did not address any of the acts alleged in the criminal information.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/10/9-dpwh-mimaropa-officials-in-flood-control-mess-denied-bail-1707">9 DPWH-Mimaropa officials in flood control mess denied bail</a></div><p>Counsel for former Regional Director Gerald Pacanan, who is also accused in the case, said Alcantara lacked personal knowledge or competence to testify on matters related to DPWH projects in Mimaropa.</p><p>The court, chaired by Associate Justice Sarah Fernandez, admitted Alcantara’s testimony, citing the need to consider the totality of the case.</p><p>The prosecution argued Alcantara was not being presented in his official capacity as DPWH Bulacan First District engineer but to testify on alleged conversations with former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. Prosecutors said these exchanges show Co remained “engaged in construction business” despite claiming he had divested from Sunwest Inc.<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/19/alcantara-to-testify-in-sandiganbayan-trial-of-co-s-malversation-case-1340"><br/></a></p><p>“Nung nag-meet sila, Zaldy Co wanted to enter as a contractor in Bulacan projects. So that’s why we know at that time, he was already engaged in the construction business… in 2019, and then after that, palagi na sila nagkikita,” a prosecutor told reporters.</p><p>The prosecution said Alcantara’s judicial affidavit did not include claims that former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo received <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/roberto-bernardo-to-testify-in-malversation-trial-of-dpwh-mimaropa-officials-0858">millions in “balato”</a> from Co through him.</p><p>Alcantara appeared before the anti-graft court after Bernardo testified that he allegedly received around P100 million from Co through him between 2023 and 2025.</p><p>Bernardo also claimed that Alcantara told him the P30 million he allegedly received from accused Pacanan likewise came from Co.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/roberto-bernardo-to-testify-in-malversation-trial-of-dpwh-mimaropa-officials-0858">Bernardo testifies he got annual P10-million ‘balato’ from Zaldy Co via ex-DPWH-Mimaropa chief</a></div><p>Alcantara earlier implicated lawmakers in a kickback scheme connected to flood control projects before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and was later admitted into the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program.</p><p>A representative from the Anti-Money Laundering Council is scheduled to take the witness stand on April 7.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_HkBO4-re4k?si=qiNnYZGFj3QKmhxN" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Lawyers for the former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)–Mimaropa refused to cross-examine state witness Henry Alcantara in the malversation case over a road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, to manifest their objection to his testimony.</p>

Lawyers for the former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)–Mimaropa refused to cross-examine state witness Henry Alcantara in the malversation case over a road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, to manifest their objection to his testimony.

Lawyers for ex-DPWH-Mimaropa officials object to Alcantara testifying in malversation case over Mindoro road dike

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Lawyers for ex-DPWH-Mimaropa officials object to Alcantara testifying in malversation case over Mindoro road dike

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 24, 2026 12:12 PM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

Alcantara

DPWH

Mimaropa

flood control

road dike

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