Former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara has expanded the web of officials allegedly involved in the multibillion-peso flood control project controversy, affirming earlier claims by his former deputy but adding fresh names and details in a 49-page affidavit filed before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Alcantara backed up ex-deputy Brice Hernandez’s testimony that millions in kickbacks reached Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva. But he went further, implicating former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, ex-Caloocan lawmaker Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, and Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana.
He admitted personally delivering P150 million in cash to Villanueva’s rest house in Bocaue, Bulacan, where he left it with a staff member. “Sinabi ko kay Peng na pakibigay na lang kay Boss, tulong lamang iyon para sa future na plano niya pero hindi po niya alam na doon galing iyon sa flood control. Matapos po noon ay hindi na kami nag-usap,” his affidavit stated.
The sworn statement also described how Villanueva pushed for a P1.5-billion multipurpose building in 2022. Alcantara said only P600 million was approved, which angered the senator. He claimed Bernardo later instructed him to channel P150 million worth of projects to Villanueva as compensation, though Alcantara maintained that Villanueva disliked being associated with flood control initiatives.
Villanueva has flatly rejected the allegations. “I have nothing to hide, and I welcome any inquiry that will bring out the truth,” he declared, vowing readiness to face any investigation.
As for Estrada, Alcantara and Hernandez both claimed the senator downloaded P355 million worth of projects into Bulacan under the 2025 budget, though their accounts varied in the details. Alcantara stressed he had “no direct transaction” with Estrada, insisting his role was limited to preparing a list of projects upon Bernardo’s request.
The affidavit also outlined alleged patterns of payouts to other officials. Bernardo was said to have received 20 percent cuts per project, usually handed over at a Manila hotel, with billions of pesos in allocations under his oversight. Co was accused of profiting from over 400 projects amounting to P35 billion, raising his commission rate from 20 to 25 percent by 2023. Lipana was said to have inserted hundreds of millions of pesos’ worth of projects into successive national budgets, while Cajayon-Uy allegedly demanded 10 percent cuts, delivered at a Quezon City restaurant.
Alcantara further mentioned Ferdstar Builders as having requested a project list in Bulacan, though without elaborating on its possible involvement. The firm was previously linked to Magbubukid Rep. Ferdinand Beltran, who has denied any connection to the anomalous deals.
