DPWH engineer returns kickbacks worth P110 million

National

A WHOPPING P110 million in cash, illegally siphoned from flood control projects, has been returned to the government, marking the first tangible recovery in one of the Philippines’ largest public fund scandals.

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Henry Alcantara handed over the money on Friday, Nov. 28, admitting it was amassed through kickbacks.

“This is a portion of the agreed restitution amount… This is part of the P300-million committed amount for restitution (by Alcantara)” Department of Justice acting Secretary Fredderick Vida told reporters during the ceremonial turnover, as quoted by Philstar.

Alcantara was represented by his lawyer Emil Joven. Officials from the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Bureau of Treasury were also present.

The cash will first undergo verification by the Land Bank before being remitted to the Treasury.

Vida said Alcantara had pledged to return a total of P300 million based on DOJ investigators’ findings from his sworn statements about the kickbacks he received, and he requested additional time to deliver the remainder due to difficulties raising the funds while detained at the Senate.

Vida also announced that Alcantara and former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo have been provisionally admitted to the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program.

Bernardo committed to initially returning P7 million from the approximately P1 billion he allegedly obtained, while his frozen bank accounts are being processed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council to facilitate the turnover of funds.

The DOJ formalized their provisional WPP admission through a memorandum of agreement requiring both men to restitute their illicit wealth and provide full disclosure regarding the flood control anomalies when called as state witnesses.

Vida clarified that the WPP admission does not grant blanket immunity and covers only the transactions they admitted to knowing about and participating in.

The DOJ is also evaluating WPP applications for other potential state witnesses, including dismissed DPWH assistant engineer Bryce Hernandez and contractor couple Curlee and Sara Discaya.(MyTVCebu)