P90 million kickback meant for Revilla, says Alcantara

MANILA, Philippines — Former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara testified before the Sandiganbayan that P90 million raised from private contractors was allegedly intended as a kickback for former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. in connection with a flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Taking the witness stand in Revilla’s graft case, Alcantara confirmed that the P90 million in “commitments” was transported by his driver and delivered to former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo at the Diamond Hotel.

During cross-examination, however, Alcantara acknowledged that he was not physically present during the transaction.

Alcantara, who served as district engineer from 2021 to 2025, testified that the money consisted of private funds advanced by contractors before the controversial flood control project was officially awarded.

“The persons are usually legislators,” Alcantara noted when asked to define “proponents” who allegedly secured funding through insertions in the General Appropriations Act.

He clarified that his understanding that Revilla was the project’s proponent came solely from Bernardo.

Under questioning, Alcantara affirmed that Revilla never personally identified himself as the project proponent, never demanded a 30 percent kickback and never signed any document related to the project.

He likewise maintained that Revilla never communicated with him regarding the bidding process or the signing of the contract with SYMS Construction.

Court records showed that public funds for Project 0299 were not disbursed until May 5, 2025, after the advance payments had already been collected.

The project was awarded to SYMS Construction on March 28, 2025, with the contract formally signed on April 7, 2025.

Alcantara also denied any intentional involvement in “ghost projects,” saying his discussions with Bernardo had always contemplated the actual implementation of the flood control infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Alcantara, who became a state witness in exchange for his testimony, committed to return P300 million in kickbacks to the government by 2027. He has so far returned P181 million.

“By September this year, I will return P25 million. By the end of 2027, I will have fully paid it,” he said.