MANILA – The Senate’s flood control scandal probe exploded into a clash of testimonies yesterday as former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara admitted receiving multi-million-peso luxury vehicles and a pricey wristwatch — gifts that his former aide insisted were actually demands.
At the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Alcantara recounted how staff members supposedly surprised him with extravagant items, including a GMC unit worth over P10 million and a Toyota Land Cruiser 300.
“Birthday gift daw po nilang tatlo, biniro ko pa po sila, ‘Anong gagawin ko diyan, sana pinera niyo na lang’,” Alcantara told senators, adding that he later decided to return the vehicles. “Actually noong pumutok na po ito, sinauli ko po ’yung sasakyan. Sabi ko hindi ko kailangan ’yan kung diyan nanggaling ’yan.”
But his longtime aide, former assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez, flatly contradicted him.
“Yung sasakyan po na LC300 at GMC, hindi po namin niregalo ’yon, hiningi niya po ’yan sa amin,” Hernandez testified.
He further alleged that Alcantara demanded an even more extravagant gift: a Patek Philippe wristwatch worth over P5 million.
“Ang hiningi niya pong regalo sa amin nung birthday niya ay isang ‘Patek’ na relo. Nasa P5 million mahigit po. Alam ko po dito banda sa Makati namin binili iyon,” he said, adding that it was sourced through the black market to skip the years-long waiting list.
Senate President Tito Sotto expressed disbelief, noting the rarity of acquiring such a timepiece through legal means. Hernandez, however, stood by his claim: “It was bought from the black market, Your Honor.”
The revelations intensified questions about how DPWH officials in Bulacan handled public funds, with senators now weighing corruption and misconduct charges against Alcantara./PN
