Alcantara bares ‘in-house’ contractors in DPWH Bulacan

MANILA, Philippines — A former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer in Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office on Monday revealed the existence of the so-called “in-house” contractors in his district.

State witness Henry Alcantara made the revelation when he took the witness stand in the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division during the graft trial of former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and his co-accused in an alleged ghost project in Bulacan’s Pandi town worth P92.8 million.

Alcantara said the so-called “in-house” contractors were led by former DPWH assistant district engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, also Revilla’s co-accused in this graft case.

Associate Justice Frederick Musngi, Fourth Division chairperson, asked Alcantara: “Enlighten us in the in-house arrangement.”

READ: Revilla malversation case: Contractor admits license lending

“They serve as the contractor,” Alcantara said in response, noting that they are borrowing a license from SYMS Construction, a private contractor.

Alcantara’s testimony on “in-house” contracting appears to confirm the sworn statements of SYMS Construction’s owner Sally Santos, another state witness.

Santos previously revealed before the Sandiganbayan Third Division that Hernandez bagged P1.8 billion worth of projects using her company’s contract in exchange for a three percent “royalty” for each project.

The law prohibits license lending under the Republic Act No. 11711, or the amendment of the RA No. 4566, or the Contractor’s License Law.

Meanwhile, Alcantara admitted there were even times when he lent capital to Hernandez and Mendoza for this scheme.

“Those are my personnel, I loved them also. I also help them,” he said when asked by state prosecutor Maria Christina Marallag-Batacan to confirm the in-house contracting.

Advance payment

Responding to questions from Musngi, Alcantara said it was also Hernandez who provided an advance payment for infrastructure projects.

This advance payment, the witness said, was also used to provide kickbacks to project proponents, usually lawmakers.

Alcantara also said he managed to raise P90 million from private contractors, which was supposed to be an alleged kickback for Revilla.

READ: Flood control mess: Justice questions immunity of Bernardo, Alcantara

Asked by Malabaguio if this amount was raised through “internal contracting,” Alcantara said he is “not sure.”

This amount, he said, was delivered by his driver to the Diamond Hotel and was intended for former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, also a state witness. 

Bankers’ boxes

Alcantara said this amount was encased in four to five “bankers box(es),” which could encase up to P20 million each.

Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio of the Fourth Division asked if he was certain if this amount was given to Revilla, to which he responded: “Supposed to be.”

Malabaguio asked: “It’s only Usec Bernardo who can confirm?” To which Alcantara said: “Yes, your honor.”

To recall, Bernardo previously brought the “banker’s box” before the Third Division. He said he delivered P500 million to Revilla contained in 15 of these boxes and one paper bag.

READ: Revilla got P1.5B project ‘allocation,’ P500M cash – witness

Musngi said it will be “interesting” to hear the testimony of Bernardo, but state prosecutors have yet to announce a date of his appearance in the Fourth Division. /das