An additional P200 million in restitution may soon be turned over to the government by former Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, as prosecutors continue to look into alleged irregularities tied to flood control projects.
According to a report by 24 Oras, the Department of Justice said Alcantara is expected to remit the amount as early as next week while his application to the Witness Protection Program (WPP) is being processed. The development follows his earlier repayment of P110 million, which he returned to the government in November.
Alcantara was again seen at the Justice Department earlier in the day as he maintains cooperation with investigators examining allegedly anomalous flood control undertakings. He is among several former DPWH officials — including Roberto Bernardo, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza — who have been classified as “protected witnesses” and placed under provisional acceptance to the WPP.
Separate from Alcantara’s case, Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez confirmed that a complaint involving former Ako Bicol Party-List Representative Zaldy Co has already been forwarded for resolution. Co was earlier named as an additional respondent in a case linked to an alleged ghost flood control project undertaken by SYMS Construction in Bulacan.
Martinez said Co failed to submit a counter affidavit within the period set by prosecutors. “Zaldy Co had until December 5 to file his counter affidavit in one of the 5 cases involving SYMS Construction,” Martinez told GMA News Online.
“Zaldy never appeared. Neither was he represented by counsel. As to him, the case is now submitted for resolution notwithstanding the absence of a counter affidavit,” he added.
