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Former Bulacan District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara made a significant move on Friday by handing over a hefty sum of P110 million to the government. This payment is part of his commitment to make amends after admitting he authorized payments for fake “ghost” infrastructure projects.
Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida shared that Mr. Alcantara’s cash turnover, facilitated through his lawyer, is a key step in the restitution process tied to his application for the Justice Department’s Witness Protection Program (WPP), amid ongoing investigations into flood control issues.
“This shows good faith. By becoming a state witness, he’s expressing, ‘Dear DOJ, we want to support the government because we regret what we did. If we gained anything from it, we’re returning it to the public.’ This is a big step towards justice,” Mr. Vida remarked during a press briefing in Filipino.
He also mentioned that the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) will work together to verify the funds before the amount is officially accepted. “They will check for any counterfeits or missing data. Everything will be confirmed. Once counted, they will certify the sum, and the Bureau of Treasury will provide an official receipt,” he explained.
Previously, Mr. Alcantara confessed that during his time as Bulacan’s first district engineer, he signed off on completion certificates for numerous non-existent flood control and infrastructure projects. The total estimated earnings from alleged kickbacks and fraudulent projects during Mr. Alcantara’s term stand at around P300 million.
The cash handover took place right as the DOJ was conducting a preliminary investigation into the Bulacan flood control project cases on Friday — Erika Mae P. Sinaking
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