Revilla case: Funds released for ‘ghost’ project despite irregularities

MANILA, Philippines — Funds for the P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, were still released despite alleged irregularities in billing documents.

Genevieve Cuaresma, finance director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), confirmed this when she testified on Wednesday during the bail hearing for the malversation case of former senator Bong Revilla and several co-accused at the Sandiganbayan Third Division.

Cuaresma, in response to questions from Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, said there were alleged irregularities in the monthly Certificate of Payment and the Statement of Work Accomplished (SOWA) for the Pandi project.

The monthly Certificate of Payment and the SOWA were supposed to have been signed by former DPWH assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez and district engineer Henry Alcantara.

Hernandez is among the co-accused in the case, while Alcantara is now a state witness.

Moreno asked Cuaresma if the monthly Certificate of Payment and SOWA bore the signatures of Hernandez and Alcantara, as required, but the DPWH official responded in the negative.

Pertaining to the monthly certificate of payment, Moreno asked: “There being no signatures on top of the names of Hernandez and Alcantara, how do you consider this document?”

“This is incomplete, illegal, and should not have been paid,” Cuaresma said.

Moreno then tackled the signature of Sowa, asking: “Do you see the signature of Brice Hernandez?”

“None, your honor,” Cuaresma responded.

“Do you see the signature of Henry Alcantara?” Moreno asked again, to which Cuaresma replied, “No, your honor.”

The associate justice went on: “Both the signatures of Hernandez and Alcantara are absent. How do you consider this document?”

Cuaresma responded: “It’s incomplete and illegal to pay.”

The Sowa declared the project “95.17 percent” complete, Cuaresma also confirmed.

READ: Revilla’s ‘Bulacan ghost project’ case marked 95% complete in 21 days

However, a Sandiganbayan site inspection led by Miranda last week found no visible structures at the declared location of the Pandi project apart from a number of steel sheet piles.

READ: ‘95% finished’ flood control structure in Revilla case is non-existent

Revilla did not attend Wednesday’s hearing.

He attended Monday’s hearing but asked to be excused due to a migraine, his spokesperson, Reody Anthony Balisi, said.

Revilla had already posted a P90,000 bail for his graft case, but he remains detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Quezon City since his malversation case is non-bailable.

The bail hearing for Revilla and his co-accused will last until April 24. /mcm