SYMS contractor says she brought P245M to DPWH office in a day

A contractor on Monday admitted to delivering around P245 million in cash to a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) office in one day.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday, Syms Construction Trading owner Sally Santos said she delivered the cash in boxes.

“Sinabi mo kasi (you told us) you delivered P245 million in one day,” Senator Jinggoy Estrada said.

“Yes, Your Honor. Marami po. Boxes ng mga noodles. Minsan yung P245 minsan, hinahati ko lang kasi hindi pwede ang isang bulto,” Santos said.

(Yes, Your Honor. It was delivered in boxes about the size of noodle boxes. Sometimes, the P245 million was split up because I couldn't deliver it all in one bulk.)

P1 billion in deliveries?

Santos, in response to Estrada, said she could have delivered up to P1 billion to the DPWH office from 2022 to the present.

These boxes were delivered to the office of former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, Santos said.

“Binababa niya lang sa opisina yung pera na nakakahon, nakasardo yun,” Hernandez said. “Hindi ko binibigay, kinukuha lang yun ni Alcantara sa office ko.”

(She just delivered the boxes to my office. I’m not distributing it. Former Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara will get them in my office.)

Hernandez was cited in contempt after he repeatedly denied alleged information regarding his casino ventures.

Borrowing of contractor’s license

In the same hearing, Santos said Hernandez ordered her to borrow contractors’ licenses for his projects.

When asked why her, Santos said, “Ako daw po yung pwede niyang kausapin para mang-hiram. Eh nakikisuyo po sakin.”

“Syempre po ako po may takot din po ako. Kasi nandon po ako sa DPWH nag-pproject po ako . Kung hindi naman po ako susunod sakanila, paano po ako?” she added.

(I’m the one who can ask a favor to borrow contractors’ licenses.) I’m afraid that if I don’t follow him, I might jeopardize my projects with DPWH.)

Meanwhile, Wawao Builders General Manager Mark Allan Arevalo said their contractor’s license was forcibly used by Hernandez.

“Sa takot na maapektuhan yung negosyo namin,” Arevalo said. “Sapilitan nilang ginamit, your honor.”

(We let them use our license out of fear that our business would be affected. They forcibly used it, your honor.)

Lifetime ban

In response, Hernandez said he was only following instructions.

The DPWH has imposed a lifetime ban on contractors Wawao Builders and SYMS Construction Trading, which were behind the reported ghost projects in Bulacan.

Wawao Builders has been linked to the alleged ghost project in Barangay Sipat, Plaridel, which was declared complete in 2024.

Meanwhile, SYMS Construction Trading was linked to the alleged ghost project in Barangay Piel, Baliuag. –NB, GMA Integrated News