Bulacan parish to return vehicle donated by ex-DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara

The San Pascual Baylon Parish in Obando, Bulacan is set to return the pickup truck donated by dismissed Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara following the revelations related to the anomalous flood control projects.

“Dahil sa mga lumabas na ulat at akusasyon ng katiwalian laban kay G. Henry Alcantara, kaagad na pinag-usapan at pinagnilayan ng Sangguniang Pastoral ng Parokya ng San Pascual Baylon ang nararapat na hakbang, at napagkasunduan naming isauli ang naturang donasyon,” the parish said in a statement.

(Due to the reported and alleged corruption of Mr. Henry Alcantara, the Pastoral Council of the Parish of San Pascual Baylon immediately discussed and reflected on the appropriate course of action, and we agreed to return the said donation.)

“Kasalukuyan po naming isinasagawa ang mga kinakailangang hakbang upang maisauli ito sa tamang paraan – sa wastong tao o institusyon at sa pamamagitan ng angkop na legal na proseso,” it added.

(We are currently taking the necessary steps to return it properly, to the rightful person or institution, and through the appropriate legal process.)

The San Pascual Baylon Parish, also known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Salambo, said Alcantara donated the vehicle on July 1, 2024.

“Tinanggap namin ito in good faith dahil sa pangangailangan na rin sa ginagawang pilgrimage o pagdalaw ng imahen ng Mahal na Birhen ng Salambao upang marating ang iba’t ibang parokya,” it said.

(We accepted it in good faith because we needed it for pilgrimages or visits to the image of Our Lady of Salambao.)

The parish added the decision to return the donations was in accordance with the directive of the Diocese of Malolos and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. 

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has found Alcantara guilty of administrative offenses, perpetually barring the latter from holding public office.

Alcantara previously admitted that he used an alias and a fake ID to enter a casino despite government employees being prohibited from gambling under Administrative Code of 1987.

The House Infrastructure Committee earlier said Alcantara may face plunder and other charges after he admitted that he certified as complete a P55-million flood control project in Baliwag town that was later found to be non-existent. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News